Athena and the Fairies

By Teresa Craig

A teenage girl, Athena believes in fairies. She has become an outcast, bullied by her school mates because they think she is crazy. Athena is set on proving to others that fairies do exist. Athena and her mother Kyra took pictures of the fairies in the garden, and a trusted friend sends the pictures to a professor of mythology in Salsands City. Only a handful of people know about the fairies in Nittle Creek. A deathly illness falls upon the family and Athena talks to the fairies. Is there a way that the fairies can help her family survive this illness, or will they face losing someone they love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493113743

Teresa Craig

T. Craig was born and raised in the town Bancroft, Ontario. Canada. Her passions in life include, art, music, and writing. For as long as she can remember she has always loved to write; she finds it to be soothing and relaxing. When not on the computer you can surely find T. Craig curled up with a book reading, painting, and drawing, or jotting notes down in little books.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Teresa Craig.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 10/10/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

136201

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

I dedicated this book to my children, Marie, Keegan,

Norman Jr., Toby, Zachary, Brittany, Aleena, Marcus, and

to my wonderful supporting husband Alex, my grandson Arron, my mother Yvonne, and my foster mom Marie. I

would like to thank my daughter Marie for posing for the silhouette picture on the cover. I love you all.

Chapter 1

I n a sleepy little town called Nittle Creek lived, a teenage girl named Athena. She was tall for the age of fifteen. Athena was a girl who believed in witches, fairies, ghosts, goblins, unicorns, magic, and many other mythical creatures. She loved to spend her time in her room where she read books and drew pictures.

Athena had a younger brother he was fourteen years old. Maldor loved to tease Athena about the things she thought was real. He always put Athena down about what she believed in. Athena never hung out with any of the kids she knew, she kept to herself. Athena’s parents tried to get her to go and hang out with the other kids in the village, but she always said no, that she preferred to be alone.

The family lived in a small cottage house near the bank of the river just outside of the town. When Athena did go outside she would go sit by the riverbank amongst the flowers, gaze at the water, and smell the sweet flowers. She would day dreamed about meeting fairies or some other mythical creatures. Athena drew pictures of fairies, the way she imagined how they would look. She had a large scrapbook where she kept her drawings in. She had even showed her mother Kyra the pictures.

Since Athena started to go out on Halloween night, she had always chosen to dress up as her favorite creature, a fairy. Athena seemed to have a very active imagination, so her parents thought. They would watch her through the kitchen window whenever she went outside.

Krya and Zack had a perfect view of the riverbank and the beautiful flowers. Athena would walk out to the riverbank and sit amongst the flowers all alone. She liked being alone amongst the flowers, and listening to the river running alongside the bank. Athena found it to be very peaceful. When sitting alongside the bank in amongst the flowers she knew that she did not have to worry about her brother or anyone else teasing her about believing in fairies. Athena never told her mom or dad about Maldor and the kids at school teasing her. Maldor joined in with the other kids when they teased her, and sometimes he was the one who would start teasing her. She did not like going to school, but knew that she had to go.

It was a beautiful bright sunny Monday morning. Athena was dressed for school, made her lunch, and then sat down to eat a nice hot bowl of porridge. Maldor crawled out of his bed a little later than usual, so Athena was just finishing her break-feast when Maldor came into the kitchen to make his lunch and get break-feast. Maldor looked over at his sister as she got up from the table and spoke to her.

Athena will you be going to go into the flower garden at school today to look for fairies?

Athena looked at her brother with a frown on her face. Why do you want to know Maldor?

No reason, just curious.

Maldor you just want to know so you and your friends can bug me, and tell me that I am crazy, and tell me that fairies do not exist.

Well of course, what are brother’s for?

Just leave me alone Maldor or I am going to tell mom and dad you’re teasing me.

You won’t tell mom and dad. You always say that Athena.

This time I will tell on you if you keep teasing me.

Maldor started laughing.

Go ahead and tell them, they will just think you are crazy when you tell them you been looking for fairies. Everyone knows that fairies are not real, they do not exist.

Athena was angry with Maldor. She huffed, turned away from Maldor, and went to her room slamming the door shut with a loud bang. Athena lay on her bed with tears streaming down her face, wishing Maldor and the other kids would leave her alone.

Kyra and Zack wandered out of their room when they heard the door slam shut. They walked into the kitchen to see Maldor was busy eating. Maldor looked up from his food at his mom and dad and said Good morning.

Good morning Maldor, do you know why your sister seems to be upset?

No, she went stomping off in a huff when I came into the kitchen.

Kyra looked at Maldor with suspicion. Did you say something to her that upset her?

No not that I know of mom.

Okay I will have to talk to her after.

Maldor finished eating and placed his dishes in the sink. He went into his room and grabbed his school bag, then stopped at Athena’s door and knocked on the door.

Athena it’s time to leave for school.

Maldor walked away from her door and went back to the kitchen to say bye to Kyra and Zack who were just sitting down with their coffee in hand.

I’m on my way to school; I’ll see you after school when I get home.

Kyra and Zack responded at the same time. Have a good day at school, we love you.

Love you too mom and dad, I also knocked on Athena’s door and told her it was time to leave

Okay thank you Maldor.

Maldor left for school with a grin on his face knowing he was the one who upset his sister. He also knew that if his mom and dad found out he would be in trouble.

Athena quickly dried her face and applied her make-up, this way her mom and dad would not know that she was crying. Athena grabbed her bag and headed out to the kitchen to say bye. Kyra looked at Athena’s face as soon as she entered the kitchen. Even with the make-up on Kyra could still tell that she had been crying. Athena’s face was puffy under her eyes, and her eyes looked so sad. Kyra took a sip of her coffee then questioned Athena.

Athena, is everything okay?

Yes mom, everything is fine.

Are you sure? You sounded very upset when you slammed your bedroom door shut.

I’m fine mom. Can we talk later? I’m going to be late for school.

Alright, but we will talk about this later. You know if there is something bothering you, you know you can come to me and your father to talk; you can talk to us about anything.

I know mom, I’ll see you when I get home from school.

Kyra let out a sigh; she knew there was something bothering Athena, but she would just have to wait until she was ready to talk.

Okay, love you and have a good day at school.

Oh mom I might be staying an extra hour after school so I can help with the flower garden. We might even be planting some new flowers today.

That is wonderful; I bet the flower garden looks beautiful.

It is beautiful mom, I just wish people would learn to put their garbage in the garbage can and not in amongst the flowers.

Maybe you should ask about putting up a sign telling people to please respect nature and do not litter.

That is a good idea; I’ll have to ask the teacher if we could make up some sort of sign to put out at the garden. Thanks for the idea mom, now I need to go or I will be late for class.

Okay you have a good day and maybe I will have to come to school sometime soon so I can see the flower garden you have been working in.

Athena walked out the door and headed off to school.

Kyra got up from the table and walked into the living room. She sat in the rocking chair in front of the picture window where she was able to view the complete backyard and the flower garden that ran alongside the riverbank. It was a better view compared to the kitchen window. Kyra liked to sit in the rocking chair and being able to view the wonderful beauty of the flowers. Kyra was staring out the window with a worried look on her face.

Zack came into the living room and observed Kyra’s face. The creases on her forehead and around her nose would crinkle up, and then straighten. Zack always knew that she was thinking and worrying when Kyra crinkled her forehead and nose. Zack pulled one of the stools over and sat in front of her. Taking Kyra’s hands in his and looking into her beautiful green eyes and questioned her.

Kyra what are you thinking about?

Kyra let out a heavy sigh.

I was thinking about Athena. Something really upset her this morning. You know as well as I do that her slamming the bedroom door is not normal for her. She was trying to get our attention, trying to tell us there was something wrong this morning.

I know our daughter does not normally slam her door Kyra, I agree with you. You already asked her if anything was bothering her this morning before she left and she said everything was fine. So I say for you not to worry too much about it until she gets home from school. Than you can talk to her, maybe take her out into the garden with you this way the two of you will have some privacy in a peaceful and relaxing place.

I guess your right Zack. There not much I can do until she comes home. I just hope she will talk about it.

She will talk if she is ready, now stop worrying so much or those creases in your forehead are never going to smoothen out.

Kyra started to laugh a little. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around Zack, hugging him tightly.

I love how you always try to lighten my mood Zack, but I think you better get going to work or you’re going to be late.

Ah yes I guess I should be off. I think I can already hear them yelling at the other end of town.

Kyra laughed even harder.

There’s that wonderful smile and laugh I love so much, try not to lose it today while I’m at work or I will come down with a case of the silliness.

Alright, off to work with you and I will see you this evening when you return home.

Zack wrapped his arms around Kyra hugging her gently, and kissed her good-bye. Zack walked out the door and down the path to the road. Kyra stood in the doorway watching him until he disappeared from her sight. She closed the door and went to sit in her rocking chair once again.

Kyra sat looking out into the garden still thinking about what was bothering Athena. Maybe a walk out by the flowers will ease my mind she thought. Kyra got up and put a shawl on. She walked out the back door and walked down to the flower garden. The flowers looked so wonderful in full bloom, even the sound of the water running along the bank was very peaceful to listen to this morning.

Kyra decided to sit down along the bank of the river. She took off her sandals and dangled her feet in the water. It was a little cool, but felt soothing. Kyra lay back on the grass kicking her feet in the water and admiring all the different colors of the flowers. When she and Athena planted the flowers, they planted a mixture of seeds so they could watch the flowers grow and flourish.

The butterflies seemed to like the flowers as well as the bees. The garden seemed to attract many different species of butterflies. Kyra concentrated a little more on the butterflies noticing that they seemed to match the flowers they were hovering over.

That is odd I have never seen butterflies act like that before. I’m going to have to come out to the garden more often and observe these beautiful butterflies.

Kyra felt more at ease since she sat on the bank.

I’ll have to bring Athena out here to sit and talk. Maybe she will be more at ease and will talk about what is bothering her.

Kyra pulled her feet from the water and picked up her sandals. She did not bother to put her sandals back on; she walked across the grass in her bare feet back to the house. Before entering the house,