The Promise: A Novel

By April Renz Roma

How far would you go to protect your loved ones?
Combining love, wisdom, magic, and adventure into an inspiring tale of self-discovery to protect by all means the love of your life, The Promise will teach you about the essential wisdom of listening to the voices within you and recognizing thy powers within.
April Roma’s masterpiece tells the dauntless story of the twins Morgan and Madison, together with their elder sister, Maia, in the pursuit of finding out about their extraordinary abilities that no ordinary human was capable of doing; they harnessed these special abilities.
Then came Heskan, their family’s longtime foe, who threatened the sisters’ safety. The twins and Maia began to bridle their exceptional powers in order to secure one another. They embarked on a long journey into a challenging but exhilarating and fruitful adventure to save their family. Most importantly, they found true love and discovered who they genuinely were.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546268604

April Renz Roma

April grew up and currently resides in the historic and beautiful city of Mandaue,Cebu, Philippines. Writing has always been her passion; she started writing since she was sixteen years old. She has previously published her first book; a poetry entitled, “Think Out Loud”. April has three adorable little boys -Gabriel, Zazriel and Rahmiel. During her free time, besides writing and reading books; she enjoys to eat a lot, spend time with her family, play and watch movies with her kids. Currently, she works in one of the leading Self-publishing company based in the United States.

Book preview

THE

Promise

A NOVEL

APRIL RENZ ROMA

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AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2018 April Renz Roma. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/21/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6861-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-6860-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1 Chest

Chapter 2 Revelation

Chapter 3 Beginning

Chapter 4 Journey

Chapter 5 Truth

Chapter 6 Voices

Chapter 7 Arrival

Chapter 8 Affection

Chapter 9 Training

Chapter 10 Fear

Chapter 11 Awakening

Chapter 12 Storm

Chapter 13 Intruder

Chapter 14 Excursion

Chapter 15 Trapped

Chapter 16 Captivity

Chapter 17 Egotistic

Chapter 18 Acquainted

Chapter 19 Appearance

Chapter 20 Emotion

Chapter 21 Outburst

Chapter 22 Quest

Chapter 23 Intervention

Chapter 24 Redemption

Chapter 25 Betrayal

Chapter 26 Sedition

Chapter 27 The Interlude

Chapter 28 Nemesis

To

my adorable little boys,

Rahmiel, Zazriel & Gabriel

who served love for breakfast,

lunch and dinner,

topped with a goodnight kiss

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This book could never had been completed without the help of many for whose support, encouragement, and contributions I am most grateful.

To my rambunctious, inquisitive kids, Gabriel, Zazriel and Rahmiel: Thank you is not enough. God has blessed me with the presence of your souls. I could not have survived all those years of frustration had you not held my hand and let me laugh and cry as we battled together to do our best in this cruel world. I love you to the moon and back.

To Myra May Balansag aka Myra Baldwin, my amazing colleague and partner in crime: We sure had fun and great moments together. Thank you for your help and support and of course for your continued encouragement in writing and parenthood. Lastly, for doing such a great job at editing and proofreading with a limited time.

To my father: You gave me life and protected my being. You sheltered me from the storm with grace and fierce resolve. Nonetheless, you somehow found a way to give me hope that life could be so much more, and that there is no time like the present for exploring the bounds of my own potential. You did not crumble under the pressure.

I am thankful in so many ways for your shining example of how to handle difficult situations with dignity and patience.

Mostly, I just wanted you to know how delighted I am that you are still lovingly steadfast in my life and your grandchildren’s lives—exhibiting the creativity, joy, and commitment that were hallmarks of your fatherhood.

CHAPTER 1

Chest

Maia

MY SISTERS AND I were picking our favorite berries after the first frost. While Madison and I were picking berries; Morgan, Madison’s twin was dancing around in her favorite green dress with her new ribbons, that mother had bought for her. Her white like hair was making a halo when she twirled, you could see her big blue eyes a mile away and she was skinny as a twig, too. I always made fun of her on how skinny she was.

Why do we always have to work, while she plays? Madison said with a fiery tone. Madison was opposite of Morgan; she was quiet and rather read or work with her herbs. She was wearing her favorite dark red dress, it went very well with her jet-black hair and her dark brown eyes, she was chubbier than Morgan and I but she hid it very well.

Oh, come on Madison, she’s just having fun. She’s just a little girl. I said standing up to go to a different bush. Morgan if you want any berries, you better start picking some. I shouted to her.

She stopped right then. Okay. She giggled happily and started to pick berries.

How is it that you can make people do what you want? Madison asked.

I don’t know, it just happen. I shrugged as if it was nothing.

Yes, but it’s still different.

We all have our differences, from those who live in the village. You and Madison are weirdly connected, always knowing what each other are doing. I said.

Yeah, but do I have anything of my own? Morgan and I always have to be the same. She mumbled doubtful.

Uh-oh! That is easy! You put fear into anyone you don’t like. I told her, she stuck her tongue out at me. Hey it’s a good quality to sometimes make people do as you say because you scare them so much.

Oh! What’s mine? Morgan asked jumping up with excitement.

You can make people around you feel very peaceful and happy. You are like an ice to Madison’s fire.

That’s better than Madison’s! Morgan started to laugh hard holding her stomach and rolling on the ground.

Oh, that’s it! Let’s see if you’re right Maia and scare her to death. Madison said very annoyed. She got up and started to chase Morgan around.

Morgan was laughing while Madison chased her but eventually Madison was laughing. I sat down laughing too and staring at them while they are playing. I was wearing a dark blue dress but my favorite color is light blue. I had light brown to almost blonde hair, I had it in a braid the way I like it. I was not as big as Madison but not as small as Morgan was. I had green eyes that liked to shift to blue. Madison and Morgan were still chasing each other, when a chill went down my back.

I don’t like this; something bad is about to happen or has happened. I thought to myself.

Madison, Morgan, we have to go now! I ordered and started walking away.

What’s wrong? Morgan asked trying to keep up.

The wind started to pick up the faster I walked. It felt like ice are whipping at my sisters faces, but I barely noticed, I loved the cold. If my mother didn’t make me go inside all the time I would never had, it almost makes me feel awkward in my own skin, almost like I can’t get comfortable and if I’m inside to long I get a really bad headache. I get into trouble at school a lot because I always sneak off at break, because I cannot stand being inside any longer.

Maia, can we slow down? It’s getting really cold. Morgan said trying to shield herself with my body.

I did not realize I was almost running now. We have to get home! I shouted angrily at her.

Come on Maia, I’m getting cold and I can barely stand it. Madison said shivering; she always hated the cold.

I swear one time I saw Madison sitting in the fire after we were outside for too long in the winter.

I stopped to look at my sisters, they looked miserable and their rosy cheeks were now bright red and their nose were running. I felt bad for them but I knew we could not slow down.

Just trust me, we need to get home. It feels like we are not safe anymore like we need to hide; if that makes sense.

They looked at each other then back at me. Okay. They both whispered.

We started to pick up the pace. It did not take us long to get home. We all knew there was something wrong right away. I dropped the berries that I picked and started to run up to the house and saw our door; it was broken, half of it rested on the ground in splinters. I pushed the rest of the door open with more force that I could. It crashed against the wall and fell to the floor. It did not matter; anyway, the whole house was disordered. There were blood trails from the kitchen to the back of the house, claw marks on the walls, roof, floor and they were deep.

I ran, following the blood trail to our parent’s bedroom. Mother was lying on the floor, breathing hard, as if she was struggling for breath. Her black hair was everywhere and a pool of blood was curling slowly around her.

Mother! I ran and picked her up. Madison and Morgan came in. Madison grab me that blanket.

She did not say a word, but just ran and got it for me. Morgan just stayed by the door not crying, not talking, and just standing there with terror in her eyes.

I looked into her eyes. Morgan go to our room and stay there! I ordered her.

She took slow steps backwards and was soon running away.

Madison handed me the blanket, and she backed away for few minutes to check Morgan. I wrapped the blanket on mother’s wound and pushed down on it. She gasped and her eyes opened. Her eyes had no color in them; her skin was paler than Madison’s. She had cuts all over her but not as near as bad as the one on her stomach.

Mother, don’t you worry, we’re here, and it’s going to be okay. I whispered to her, not knowing that this is the last time we are going to see our mother alive.

Maia. She took a deep breath. There is something I need to tell… your father and I should have told all of you a long time ago… she laughed a little. That sounds really cheesy but it is true. She shut her eyes slowly.

Mother! Don’t! Madison screams at her.

She smiled. You girls are my life. Now, Madison can you please go into the closet, pull off the wall, and bring me what’s inside of it. Mother whispered.

Madison looked very confused but she did it. I could hear her pulled the wall apart.

And you deserve to know all of these. Remember, I will always love you girls, and I want you to know that I will always be by your side. Those were her last words.

I heard Morgan scream from our room, Madison came rushing out of the closet holding a big chest, she dropped it when she saw mother. I just stared at her, I could feel my eyes huge but I could not really see her clearly, tears started to run down my face; I clung to her as tight as I could. I could already feel her becoming ice cold and a lot heavier then she should have been.

Morgan

I wanted to run farther out of our room. I wanted to run until I couldn’t remember what I just saw; but I just sat there looking at the blurry wall like that’s all I could see and think about was that wall, or tried to anyway. I felt my mother’s soul leave her body somehow but I knew she is not here anymore. I could not help but scream at the thought of never seeing my mother again. I never thought I would lose her, I never thought I could live without her. Thinking like that, just made me realize how young and stupid I was. The tears are still running down my face, I did not bother wiping them away; I could feel my dress bathe by my tears. When I finally felt like I could move again, I moved slowly and went to my mother’s room.

Maia was covered in mother’s blood, she even had some on her face that was already starting to dry, there was a clean stream on her cheek from her tears. Madison, she was sitting on the ground with her back resting on this very old chest. She was just staring at the pool of blood with wide eyes, the blood was making its way slowly to her.

I did not know where to look, the floor, the bed, the wall; but everything in this room had my mother’s blood on it, so I settled on looking at the chest. The funny thing was I even tried to see the good in this, as if I did everything but there is none, there is nothing good about losing a mother. I did not want to lose her; I do not think I could ever live whole again. I just lost an important part of myself. I could feel my heart hurting and breaking into little pieces. I just lost my mother and I want her back.

I started to think of all the things I could not do with my mother anymore, like go out into the woods and run or go shopping or do each other’s hair; and my favorite thing to do was cook with her. She made the best food. Her gift of cooking was sent from the Goddess herself, and of course sneaking into her bed when father was away.

The urge to run again exploded through my body. I do not think I have never stood so still for so long before. What am I going to do? No, what are we going to do?

Maia

None of us moved, or talked. Until Morgan walked back into the room, I looked up at her; her face was red from crying and her hair was a mess.

I didn’t want to be alone anymore. She hiccupped, looking down at her hands.

Madison grabbed her hand and pulled her down into her lap, and hugged her. They started to cry with each other, but not as hard as before and a lot quieter. I was still clinging to mother’s body; her blood soaked through my dress and on to my skin, I started to shiver. I almost think it could stain my skin.

Maia? Madison whispered.

I looked at her. We should bury her.

Should we check what’s in the chest first? Madison whispered after a very long silence.

I sighed heavily. We’ll take care of her first. I slid mother off my lap and put her gently on the floor. I got up and went outside, it was dark and I did not even bother how dark it was. I went back inside, got some lamps, and hung them around where mother loved to sit.

Madison, did you know that mother always loved sitting here? I remember her saying; this is where she first saw father and how they fell in love right here. This seems to be a great place to lay her to rest.

Madison handed me a shovel with a sad smile on her face.

I’m going to miss her so much; I even miss her now. I thought to myself.

Morgan is staying inside; I’m worried about her. I hope she makes it. Madison said as if she is praying.

We dug for a long time, not talking; the only noise was the shovel hitting on the ground. The wind calmed down a lot; it was getting nice out, no it was getting hot out.

Who do you think would do this?’ it almost looked like the flames grow brighter as she speak, What have she done?" Madison started yelling, her face getting red.

Madison, look at me. I dropped my shovel and made her look at me; I could feel my hands getting warm from her. Calm down. I sighed. Please, I don’t have the patience right now. We’ll worry about that later.

She shook me off her, No! I am not going to just calm down! Someone did this to our mother! How the hell can you be so calm?

I was a little surprised that she stayed this cool for so long, but I just glared at her, her face softened knowing she just said the wrong thing.

I am trying to stay calm for you two! That is the only reason, we have no clue who did this to mother, we have no clue what to do about it, we have no clue to why this happened! Madison what would you want me to do? Huh? Go out there and wander in the woods to find who did this? I would most likely end up dead too.

She did not say anything else and just stared at her hands.

That’s what I thought, Madison I sighed calming myself down, Let’s finished this.

She just nodded and we went into the house. Morgan sat at the end of mother’s bed just staring at the wall; I have never seen her sit so still for so long. It was a little nerve-wracking. I am almost a little mad at mother for doing this to my sister and to me. Causing us to fight and having us feel so lost.

Madison

Morgan? Honey, maybe you should lay down for a while? I asked as gently as I could. I could feel my anger slipping over the edge.

She did not say anything. She did not do anything.

Maia got mother’s favorite blanket; and we wrapped mom on it and carried her outside. We put her in the hole as careful as we could.

Maia? I whispered.

Hmm? she turned and looked at me.

Where’s father? Why isn’t he here? I paused for a second. Do you think he had anything to do with this? I asked with my eyes on the ground not able to look at her.

How dare you say that? Father would never do this to mother or any of us! Morgan screamed from the porch, with tears falling from her face.

Oh, Morgan! I ran to her, but she took off running into the woods.

Morgan was father’s favorite out of all of us and I was mother’s, Maia was loved by them equally.

Maia yelled after her, but that did not stop Morgan. Nothing could catch her when she starts running.

Maia! You won’t catch her, let’s just finished with mother. I said.

She whipped around, It’s dark outside and God knows what’s out there! If she gets hurt or worse Madison, you’ll be sorry, She snarled at me, her eyes were dark you could almost see a storm brewing.

I have never seen Maia this mad before, but she does have a temper if she gets mad enough at us, but she usually is more annoyed than anything.

Don’t worry Maia if anything happens to her, I’ll make it better. I snarled back. I have a problem when someone gets mad at me; I have to get mad too.

We did not speak to each other while we finished putting our mother to rest. Just as we put the last shovel full of dirt on top, Morgan walked out of the nearby bushes. Her hair had twigs in it and it looked like she fell because her dress and face where full of mud and I could see that she had some shallow cuts on her face, too. She still looked like she wanted to run and not be here.

Maia

I rushed to Morgan, are you okay? I went to hug her.

She pushed me away. Don’t touch me with your bloody hands. she looked at me as if she was disgusted with me.

I looked down at myself and how much of mothers blood was on me. All of it was dry but it was there.

I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have even mentioned it. Please forgive me.

Madison hugged Morgan.

I let them stay like that; I went over to mother’s grave. Morgan and Madison came over, and stood with me, we did not say anything. We just stared at the new upturn dirt. We moved slowly back inside and Morgan went into mother’s room and sat on her bed.

I’ll get you a bath ready. Madison whispered and almost ran off.

I went into our room and looked at myself in the mirror on our dresser. How did I get blood in my hair? I had dirt and blood mixed all over my clothes and face. My hands looked worse than any men that just came in for the field. I took off the dress slowly; I threw the dress into the corner of the room and the blood was pink on my skin. I could not wait to wash this all off. I stood in the middle of the room and waited for Madison to finish. Madison brought in the tub and then the water. I sat down in to the water and scrubbed my whole body, but it did not matter how hard I scrubbed. I could see the blood on my arms and legs.

Madison picked up the bloody dress. I’ll make us something to eat and start a fire. She left without another word but I could feel the anger and frustration flowing off her.

I got out of the water when it became to cold to stand anymore. I looked down at the water it had a red tint on it and the dirt was resting on the bottom of the tub. I dressed slowly in no hurry to leave our room.

I waked into the kitchen to see Madison and Morgan eating, there was no laugher or fighting between them like there normally was. Madison hand me a bowl of soup; it almost looks as dull as this room felt.

We need to go shopping soon. Madison whispered.

I nodded not really in any mood to talk. We finished our meal in silence. We did not really eat our food but just looked at it. Even when we finished, we did not even talk, we just sat at the dining table. I did not move until I heard a bird chirp. I jerked my head up, looked at the window, the sun was coming up. Morgan and Madison were not even at the table anymore. I stood up and went down to our parent’s room. Both of them were there curled up, sleeping on the bed holding each other. I looked over to where mother was and there was still blood in there but more of a stain now. That is when I remembered the chest; I looked down at it. It looked like an ordinary chest; nothing special about it, it was very old, the metal on it had rust eating away at it, and the paint was peeling off. I sat down in front of it and put my hand on the latch.

Should we open it? Morgan whispered so softly, it was hard to hear her.

I stared at her; Madison was awake too. Mother wanted us to. I whispered turning my attention back to the chest.

I leaned forward and lifted the lid slowly. I dropped the lid down, it made a loud sound that made all of us jumped a little and we looked down into it. You would think that there were going to be just books and papers but that was not even close. It was a stairway, but they led into darkness.

Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing? Or do I need to go to bed? I asked.

If you are seeing stairs, then neither you nor I are crazy. Madison said.

Morgan just nodded and her eyes where almost popping out of her head.

Well Madison can you go get me a lamp, I’ll go down first. I tried to sound brave but it came out as a whisper.

Are we really going down there? How is that even possible? I’m not going down there! Morgan started to freak and move away from it.

It’s okay Morgan, I’ll go first; okay? I smiled. Once I find that it’s okay will you come down?

She did not do anything at first but nodded slowly, but she still had her back against the wall and her eyes were still huge.

I walked over to the closet, pulled out one of our father’s swords. Father had taught us all how to use weapons. I was better at the sword, Madison was better at using the spear or throwing knives, and Morgan was better at the bow. I have understood why father taught us how to use weapons, I always assumed that he wanted us to be born boys but now that this is happening, I cannot believe it.

Madison came in and saw me. I’m coming too. She started running to get her knives.

No, you stay up here with Morgan. If there is anything down there, shut the lid and run. I looked at her.

She frowned at me but nodded.

She will come down for me. I sighed knowing this fact.

I took the lamp and slowly went down the stairs. There were torches all along the wall so I lit them as I went. I was terrified but was happy that I did not have to go to the washroom or I might have wet myself. I was going slow too, one-step at a time and I caught myself not breathing and my imagination was going wild; it kept on playing like someone grab my ankles and drag me under the stairs. When I finally reached the bottom, I kept walking forward. I was paying more attention to what I could hear when I ran into something. I looked down to see a desk full of old papers and half-burnt out candles. I lit them, and the darkness was leaving to reveal a round room with shelves full of books along the wall. The room was half the size of the house; I kept turning in circles just amazed at what I was seeing.

How can all of these things fit in a chest? I thought to myself.

It’s magic. A voice whispered through my head.

Hello? I said turning round.

There was no one in the room besides me.

I must be going crazy then without sleep. I whispered.

Maia, are you okay? Morgan yelled from the top of the stairs.

I walked to where they could see me. Come down here you have to see this! I yelled up to them.

They came down together, slowly. I started to read the book covers, half of them I did not understand they where written in a different language.

Wow! How can it happen? Morgan asked.

Magic. I whispered but Madison heard me.

You really believe so? Madison looked at me.

Well what else would it be? There’s no other way to explain it. I said looking around the room.

Madison’s face lit up and there was a huge grin on her face. She looked like she just had the best day of her life; not that our mother died yesterday.

How could mother and father keep these from us? Morgan asked, looking depressed.

It’s like Madison and Morgan switched places. I’ve never seen Madison so happy and never seen Morgan so sad. I thought to myself.

Maybe there is a really good reason they didn’t. Maybe they thought we could handle it or something. Madison said without taking her eyes off the bookshelves.

That answer did not seem to be good enough for Morgan.

Therefore, I came up with something, Maybe they did it to protect us.

That made it worse, Well I don’t think not telling us was a very stupid idea. They could have prepared us for this a little better, so we aren’t just sitting here and having no clue what to do. Morgan said glaring at a book in her hands.

Now that is enough Morgan, I know this is not what we wanted but there is nothing we can do about it so we have to make the best out of it okay. I don’t expect you to go back to your cheerful self but I want you to stop thinking about yourself. I raised my voice at her.

Madison and Morgan just looked at me wide eyed. Then they both ganged up on me.

Doing their weird twin thing and talking at the same time, How dare you talk to her like that; you are not our mother! they both said.

My lip twitched a little and I was trying hard not to laugh at them. I’m just sick of the glum is all and I know that we all have perfectly good reason to be.

You can’t really believe that we can get over mother’s death in one day, can you? Madison asked.

I sighed No but I can hope that you guys will move forward I know, it will take some time but I can still hope.

Well you just have to give us some time Maia not all of us can be as strong as you.

We fell silent again and it was just awkward.

Well, this is not what I expected. So I’m going to clean up, but you guys should stay down here and see if there is anything else.

They did not even look at me or even offer to help.

CHAPTER 2

Revelation

Maia

I LEFT THEM with that and walked up the stairs to get some cleaning. I went back into the room to clean mother’s blood; there were still a huge stain on the floor even after all the scrubbing I did. So I took a rug and placed it over the stain; I do not know why but I feel guilty for doing it.

Why didn’t we go to the sheriff? I thought to myself.

None of their business. The voice said again.

I looked around again. I’m going crazy! I rubbed my head; I was starting to get a huge headache like the ones when