Jamieson: The Ascension Saga: Book one

By Lori Lee

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE OFFERED THE CHANCE OF A NEW LIFE?

I struggled with the decision – leave my home completely – running away from my family was the first step, the other side of the world couldn’t hurt?

A CHANCE TO FINALLY BE YOURSELF.

I could finally move out of the shadows and see what I could do.

TO BE ACCEPTED FOR WHO, NOT WHAT YOU ARE.

Ever since the wings had grown, all I was seen as was a monster. Maybe now they would be able to see past them, to who I really am.

I suppose all I could do was wait and see.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398466821

Lori Lee

Growing up on a farm in rural Devon, Lori developed a passion for books at an early age, absorbing a range of genres from crime/horror to fantasy and more. She loves the idea of travelling to different worlds without having to leave her home and started to envisage characters in her head who were outside of the norm. When she isn't working full-time her hobbies also include woodworking, walking and acting in the local theatre group.

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About the Author

Growing up on a farm in rural Devon, Lori developed a passion for books at an early age, absorbing a range of genres from crime/horror to fantasy and more. She loves the idea of travelling to different worlds without having to leave her home and started to envisage characters in her head who were outside of the norm.

When she isn’t working full-time her hobbies also include woodworking, walking and acting in the local theatre group.

Dedication

To all those who believed in me and dreamed with me.

Copyright Information ©

Lori Lee 2023

The right of Lori Lee to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part 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 permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398466814 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398466821 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

To Tilly and Theresa, for being the first to read my book and encouraging me to continue the story.

To Terri, for believing in me.

To Isla, for having faith in me and for pushing me to get my story published.

To Alf, for being a sounding board for all of my random ideas.

And to Austin Macauley Publishers, for being the ones to trust that my writing was good enough to be out there in the world.

Chapter One

(Saturday)

Jamieson

I stepped off of the double-decker coach, managing to get stuck in the doorway. I sighed as I attempted to extricate my wings from the bus. The feeling of being watched came over me, so I turned my head to see who it was. A group of girls behind me were sniggering and pointing at me. Here we go again.

Finally, my feet touched the ground; I looked up into the looming shadow of the school, walked over to the baggage compartment and retrieved my suitcase. The building was huge–but I suppose it has to be with a boarding complex within. It must have been an old mansion for a wealthy family back in the day, but now it had been turned into a school for unique individuals, or so the sign outside read. I fell into the line of others from the bus waiting to go in.

We started to move forward, and I noticed that the boy in front of me kept looking back. He was quite gorgeous-looking actually, dark tousled hair, dark brown eyes (just my type) he must be about five inches taller than me, lean looking, wearing a denim pair of shorts and a green T-shirt. There was something about him; I just couldn’t help staring, it was almost like I could finally breathe.

At the entrance to the school, we were met by the headmaster, Professor Luck. I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the boy as I remembered when I first met the headmaster.

I was perched on the lowest branch of an oak tree, deep in the middle of the forest, when I heard the snap of a twig beneath me. Glancing down, I saw a pair of blue eyes looking back at me. I froze before opening my wings fully ready to flee at a moment’s notice. The tall, blonde-haired man introduced himself as Gabriel Luck, Principal of the Montague Academy in England. He told me about the school being a safe place for children and adults, often persecuted for our unusual talents and gifts. Then announced that there was a place for me if I wanted it. A few days later, he had returned with a private-airline ticket in his hand, a new cell phone and a selection of items I would need.

And here I am, changing my life, hopefully.

The entrance hall was huge, with a large flight of stairs at the back and four doors leading off to god-knows-where. I decided to explore later and figure out where things were. On the walls were portraits and mirrors, hundreds of them. As my eyes adjusted, I could’ve sworn there was a strange symbol carved into the baseboard of the staircase, and again into the eaves near the ceiling ♓︎. As we followed each other upstairs, my eyes constantly being drawn to the cute boy from earlier, I saw a very different symbol, this one crudely etched into the bannister, and along the picture frames ♌︎. No one else seemed to notice them, it was a bit peculiar really; I added it to my to-investigate-list and caught up with the others.

We were all shown to our dorm rooms–each consisting of two beds, two chests of drawers and two wardrobes. The left-hand side of the room seemed bare, so I settled myself into the empty furniture.

I didn’t get the chance to meet the other girl that I would be sharing my room with, obviously, she had somewhere else to be on this gloomy Saturday afternoon.

After unpacking my few belongings, I went for a wander. I found the bathrooms on the same floor as my room, a rather high-tech games-room complete with a VR station and 20 remote tablet computers, a science centre–actually four science rooms connected together each with its own purpose. I started to ponder why the heavy influence on the science side of things, lost in my thoughts, I rounded the next corner and collided with that same boy from earlier; we fell together in a heap.

Oh my Gawd, I’m so sorry, I blabbered.

It’s alright, good job this place has carpets! he exclaimed, I’m Scott, Scott Brewster. He held out his hand for me to shake, Who are you?

I’m Jamie—sorry, Jamieson Jones, I replied, returning the shake…my heart skipping a beat as our hands met.

Wow, you’re from Canada ? I like you already. Welcome to Mutant Manor. This is my second year here. Well, we can all see why you’re here, how long have you had those? He pointed at my wings.

A few years or so, but they’ve suddenly grown a lot bigger, and I can’t seem to hide them anymore.

So how old are you then, Jamie? I’m almost 18, I’ve had my power for about a year, there was a bit of an incident last year, and so I’ve been sent here to try and control it better. He seemed to be bouncing on the balls of his feet.

So, what is your power? I didn’t want to talk about myself yet.

You’ll find out soon enough, I’d better go, I’ve still got to unpack, see you around. With that, he walked off. I watched him go, just thinking about him, well boys in general, were they all like that? Or was it just him?

Eventually, I found my way back to my dorm room, after getting lost many times, at one point I was in the kitchen! On my bed, I found an envelope with my name on it. I sat down to open it, peeled open the edge with my fingers and peeked inside–slowly I pulled out the piece of paper. After reading the class schedule, I placed it back in the envelope.

Chapter Two

(Saturday)

Scott

That girl is gorgeous Scott thought aloud as he was arranging his clothes into the wardrobe. His plan had worked–to find out where she was and then accidentally-on-purpose fall into her.

To be honest, he had no clue how he had found her, call it a sixth sense or something. He already had a picture of her imprinted into his mind. She must be around 5ft 4, emerald green eyes, short purple spiky hair, and not forgetting those amazing wings, dark brown edged in a greeny colour. They must be at least 10 feet wide.

Who’s gorgeous? Or are you daydreaming again, Scottie?

Jack Preston, Scott’s roommate, sauntered through the door, and leaned his short blonde frame against it, swaying to a silent tune.

This new girl. She’s called Jamieson, you must’ve seen her already!

Um, you’re gonna have to be a bit more specific than that mate, there are a few new girls this term. What does she look like? Jack fished.

Well, she has short purple hair, green eyes and the most wonderful pair of wings. She is unforgettable! he swooned.

So, does she have a name?

I already told you, Jamieson.

Oh yeah? So she likes you too…or are you stalking her? How old is she?

I dunno, I’m working on it though, give me a chance, and I’m not the one who stalks people! Scott turned around to emphasise his point but Jack had disappeared.

I hate it when he does that! Scott resumed his task, remembering back to when he first met his best friend.

This time last year, Scott was the new guy. He stumbled through the doors much like he’d seen Jamie do this afternoon. Bewildered, and lonely, then Jack had bumped his shoulder and introduced himself, they’d been friends since that day, with the same classes, and then strangely the same dorm room too.

Chapter Three

(Sunday)

Jamieson

I had already asked what the rules were regarding curfews and was told lights out was at ten but otherwise go anywhere you like, which made me realise how happy I was that I’d moved here, I hated