Elias of Elderberry: Sons of Elderberry series, #1

By Theresa Sneed

Elias Rey, a fifteen-year-old student at Penquis Valley High School, is skinny, has a chipped tooth, and a bad case of acne. His favorite pastime is drawing dragons and his room is plastered with his renditions. Tested out as a genius, he should be in college instead of high school, but he chooses to be with the only family he's ever known, his foster sister Lizzie, and his best friend Jaron. Life is good, except for one thing, Brute, the meanest student at PVHS.

 

Elias considers moving to get rid of Brute's constant bullying. Until one fated day when a strange boy pushes a leather pouch into his hands and then mysteriously disappears, leaving Elias to wonder who he was. Shortly thereafter, Elias discovers that the pouch contains Ilesar, an ancient Papyrus that can give him anything his heart desires. He isn't going to be pushed around. Ever. Again. At least, not by the school bully.

 

I love this story! Elias of Elderberry is a cross between Harry Potter, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland, with a hint of Lord of the Rings. – Sarah Beggs

• Language: English
• Publisher: Theresa Sneed
• Release date: Apr 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9798986809496

Theresa Sneed

Author Theresa Sneed graduated cum laude with a BA in education, and though she loves teaching, she is currently taking a break from it to pursue a writing career. Her books are unique; each story will take you to places you have never imagined before. She writes across four genres—mystery and suspense, fantasy, historical fiction/time travel, and realistic paranormal. All of Theresa’s books have elements of sweet romance, and while none of her books have profanity or sexually explicit scenes, each book is intriguing and white-knuckle intense—the kind you can’t put down. The No Angel series is the story about a guardian angel with an attitude, and the ever present, but misunderstood spirit world. There are four published books in the series with many more to come. Book one is called Angel with an Attitude, book two – Earthbound Angel, book three – Destiny’s Angel, and book four – Earth Angel. The Sons of Elderberry series has one book out called Elias of Elderberry. Book two is called The Wood Fairies of Estraelia. Harry-Potterish—with wizards, fairies, elves, pixies, yōkai shapeshifters, and dragons, this epic story has it all! Theresa anticipates another three to five books to finish that series. Escape is the story of a 15 year old girl abducted by a corrupt sheriff in the 1970’s. He keeps her captive in his cellar for five years until she escapes with his truck and his young daughter. Escape is book one in a three book series. Book two, Missing is Theresa’s current WIP, (work in progress.) Salem Witch Haunt was intended to be a stand-alone book, until the shocking ending made it apparent that her characters were not finished telling their story. As the ninth great granddaughter of one of the women hanged as a witch in Salem, Theresa has a vested interest in this epic time-travel. Thoroughly researched, all interactions with real people from that era are based on primary sources—the trial scene with Susannah Martin is taken from Reverend Samuel Parris’s transcript verbatim. All Theresa’s books are available in print edition. Visit her website at http://www.theresasneed.com. She loves hearing from her readers and may be contacted through her website or through her email at mailto:[e-mail]. Follow me on twitter! https://twitter.com/TheresaSneed Friend me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/TheresaMSneed/ Favorite me at Smashwords!

Book preview

There is an evil in this world and others like unto it.

It has existed from before the age of man and beast.

It lurks on the land, in the waters,

and beneath the earth upon which we walk.

If we are not careful, it seeps into our souls; suppressing,

darkening, and shutting us off from the light we once were.

Strange and dreadful creatures watch and wait, for they are patient.

They know the weaknesses of men.

But, there is a far better good,

a mystical realm of enchantment just at our fingertips,

if we but believe.

One

Ilesar

Sure. Having a genius IQ was awesome but having too much information crammed in his head was not much fun. So, Elias Rey learned to hide it—keep it a secret. He was already the target of the meanest student at PVHS and being labeled a geek would only make that worse. At fifteen, he was the skinniest in his class, had a chipped front tooth, and a bad case of acne. Could life be crueler? Yep. He was a foster kid.

Not that his foster family was bad, in fact, he had the most amazing family ever. With his best friend Jaron Finley living across the street, and Lizzie, the coolest foster sister ever, his life was great, and he never wanted it to change. Seriously. His greatest fear was that someone would step forward and claim him. No thanks. They would be fifteen years too late. A low rumble sounded in the distance, bringing his attention to the darkening sky outside his classroom window at Penquis Valley High School. Wicked. He raised his hand and asked to go to the library.

His footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. Wrapping his arms around his cold shoulders, he shivered. Whoo. It’s freezing in here. His breath came out in short, icy puffs. It wasn’t really that cold outside, so what was up inside the school? Faulty heaters maybe? Suddenly, the lights flickered and went out. Great. And then a loud crackle rippled through the hallway, followed by a series of bright flashes. Whoa!

SWISH

A sudden gust of wind brushed past his bare arms and ruffled his hair. His muscles tensed.

Eliiiias! 

The strange voice pierced the silence, pricking the hair on the back of his neck. He froze as the garbled words continued. Destroy them! Destroy Ilesar and Ilzar!

He spun around then jumped back. A boy about his age stood near him, his gaunt face a pasty-white, his crazed eyes exploding with fear. Elias drew in a sharp breath. Where’d you come from? The hall was empty, he was sure of it! Um, ah, er, hello?

The boy thrust a leather pouch toward him.

Elias pushed it away. I don’t want that!

All at once, a thin cord tightened around the boy’s waist and yanked him backward down the hall. The sudden movement knocked the pouch from his hand, and it tumbled to the floor. With wild eyes, his arms swung through the air, desperately reaching for Elias. Destroy them!

The bell rang. Doors up and down the corridor opened releasing noisy students into the dark hallway. In seconds, the boy was out of sight, lost in the crowd. The lights flickered back on, and the sky returned to normal. Elias grabbed at a tuft of his hair and stared in the direction he’d last seen the boy. What the heck is going on? Was this some kind of a trick? The pouch still lay at his feet. His heart pounded in his chest, and then he slapped his hand against his forehead. Of course! The drama department—they must be preparing for a show!

He snatched the pouch up. Dang! That guy was good! He really had me going! He pushed past the students then raced down the hallway toward the drama department. He stuck his head into the office. Hey, Mr. Arnold!

Yes, Elias? Mr. Arnold’s beady eyes peered at him over half-moon spectacles that looked like they’d slip off his nose.

Yeah, well, just wanted to congratulate you on whatever you people are working on. Whoever that kid was with the pouch— He held it up. Well, he’s pretty convincing. Good job! He patted the pouch. I guess you’ll want this back? Mr. Arnold looked at him like he didn’t know what he was talking about.

You know—Ooooo-OOoo. Elias made a ghostly sound and wiggled his fingers in the air. He looked pretty freaky, sir.

Mr. Arnold leaned back and stroked his goatee. I have no idea what you’re talking about, Elias, none whatsoever.

Elias bounced his finger at the teacher. Good one, Mr. Arnold. He gave a nervous laugh then looked down at the pouch. Turning it over in his hands, he shrugged. Yeah, well, okay, thanks anyway.

Elias stepped back into the hallway. Who was that boy? If he hadn’t been part of any theater production at the school, what kind of performance was he in? He nodded as he remembered the thin cord tugging at the boy—great special effects. Destroy them, he had said. Elias shrugged. His gaze fell to the pouch. He started to open it, but thought better, and glanced around for a more secluded place to explore its contents.

What better place than the boy’s bathroom? He slipped through the door and then into an empty stall. He studied the brown leather bag, holding it closer to his face. The gold band that ran diagonally up its sides was made to look like a snake. Its diamond-shaped head brandished two, tiny red jewels, and its scales were thin, overlaid triangles of shimmery gold. Elias brushed his fingers over the scales and a wisp of smoke rose from it. He coughed and swept his hand through the gray mist. Dusty. All of a sudden, the bathroom door banged open and a rough voice broke the silence. Hey, zit-face! I know you’re in here!

Dang. It was Brute. King of the bullies. Torturer of the weak and the small. Of all the secluded places for the Brute to find him, defenseless, with no one to stop him from getting beaten to a pulp. The stall doors slammed against their hinges one by one closer and closer.

Elias let out a groan as Brute’s size twelve shoes stomped down on the floor in front of the stall next to his. He squeezed his eyes shut, better not to see it coming. He swallowed hard, his words coming out in a whisper, I wish I was home.

A burst of heat exploded from the pouch. It pulsating with life, casting an eerie glow against the stall door. Suddenly, a steely flash of red light stung deep into his sinewy flesh, and a powerful force twisted him through an opening—a thin slit in the air.

In an instant, Elias stood in his bedroom at 1228 Elderberry Street. Whoa! He threw the pouch on his bed and jumped back. How did I get here? Backing up against the wall, his mind shot from thought to thought. He was just in the boy’s bathroom at Penquis! —and now he was in his bedroom? Am I dreaming? I must be dreaming! Yeah, that’s it. But the memories of morning and earlier classes told him otherwise.

Studying the pouch from a distance, he grabbed his baseball bat and took a quick jab. It rolled over, releasing a billowing, silver-white smoke that twisted in the air. It wreathed around Elias like a chain around a criminal, or a victim. He fell back and the bat hit the pouch, knocking it to the floor. A loosely wrapped papyrus slipped out and rolled to a stop at his feet.

Scared out of his wits, his breath came out in short puffs. He nudged it with his shoe and then snapped his foot back. When nothing happened, he ventured closer. Using the tip of a pencil, he picked up a corner of it, and peered down through the rolled up shaft. Dropping it, the papyrus rolled partway open. It’s just paper. He let out a quick breath and sank back against the wall.

He stayed that way for several minutes. Maybe I’m going crazy like my great uncle Harvey. His gaze fell to the parchment. It looked harmless enough. He got on his knees and bent forward to take a closer look at the strange writings sprawled across its weathered sides.

The keeper of Ilesar is the keeper of great power.

His heart thudded in his chest. Ilesar? A chill went up his back, as he remembered the boy’s warning to destroy Ilesar. He rubbed his throbbing head with his fingertips. Great power.

The front door opened and his father yelled up the stairs. Elias? Are you home? Elias slipped the papyrus back in its pouch and slid it under his bed.

I’m up here, Dad.

Heavy footsteps tromped up the steps and Clint Weston burst into his room. His lips turned down in a frown. Why aren’t you in school? Mr. Palmer called saying you were missing from your first hour class.

I felt sick, so I came home. That was true—the sick part and the home part.

It’s not like you to skip out without telling anyone. He placed his hand on Elias’s head. You are a little warm. Why don’t you lie down. I’ll call the school and then I’ll bring you up a glass of water. He patted him on the foot and left.

Elias leaned over the side of his bed and stared at the pouch. He pulled it out. Should I show this to Dad? It made all the sense in the world to tell him about the bizarre events of the day, and yet, even as he struggled with what to say, he knew he couldn’t. It was too weird, and he was way more than curious. He was drawn to it. Slipping off his bed, he opened the bottom drawer of his dresser and pushed the pouch under a pile of socks. Clint’s footsteps sounded on the stairs and Elias flung himself back on the bed.

Here, drink this. Handing him the water, he waited for Elias to take a drink, and then gestured to his mouth with the thermometer. Open up. He placed the thermometer under his tongue.

Elias glanced at the dresser. He had forgotten to close the drawer and a strange red light glowed from beneath the socks. His eyes popped open.

What’s the matter, son?

Elias’s mind raced as he tried to think of a way to distract his dad. He pointed to his nose. I need a tissue. He waited for Clint to leave then bounced off the bed. He pushed on the drawer, but it was stuck and wouldn’t budge. He jiggled it. Come on! The red light under the socks seemed brighter than before, like it was mocking him. He groaned and pushed the drawer with all his might. The drawer gave way with a loud, BANG. Footsteps neared his door. Oh! Elias tripped over a pile of books on the floor and fell on his bed as Clint stepped through the doorway with the tissues.

Clint looked around the room. What was that noise?

Um. Elias pointed to the pile of books. The books?

Oh. You dropped them?

Uh, yeah. Elias quivered with strange excitement. What am I doing? I should just tell him the truth! Dad?

What is it?

I, uh, he hesitated, stumbling over his words. He looked at the dresser, then up at his dad, and then back at the dresser. His eyes lingered on the bottom drawer. Never mind.

The evening drew on. One by one his parents and sister went to bed. Elias lay flat on his back staring up at the glow-in-the-dark constellation dimly illuminated on his bedroom ceiling. The planets and stars had been important to him once, like old friends. He spent hours wondering if other people or life existed on them.

Whoo, he breathed out slowly. Stranger things had happened at school that day than the possibility, nay, probability of life on another planet. He held trembling fingers to his forehead realizing that maybe there was life on other planets after all. He turned over and stared at his drawings of dragons plastered across the wall. After a while, he fell asleep, tossing and turning, eventually giving in to the strange, but familiar dream.

The winged beast dropped, soaring down toward him. But he was not afraid, at least not afraid of the beast.

Two

Ilzar

Elias awoke with a start and sat upright in bed. Dragons. He pulled the sheet up to his chest and wondered if anyone else had reoccurring dreams, if that was normal . Normal? He grumbled. Will you listen to yourself? With the events of yesterday, the sudden transport from Penquis to home, the glowing papyrus, and the strange words etched on it—nothing was normal. He crawled out of bed, turned on a small desk lamp, and then carefully reached for the papyrus.

The keeper of Ilesar is the keeper of great power.

His hands shook as he held the ancient writings to his face. I wonder what that means. All at once, the words blurred. He rubbed his eyes then held the parchment closer to the lamp, but the hazy characters sank into the parchment like quicksand, and new words appeared in their place.

He dropped the papyrus to the floor. "I’m tired, yeah, that’s it—tired." He bent over the parchment and gulped.

Elias of Elderberry

Do you have a question for me?

Whoa! Elias fell backwards tripping over a basketball and knocking down the lamp. He lay there still—a sinking sensation swirling in the pit of his stomach. He cleared his throat. What is happening to me? Am I crazy?

Slowly, new words appeared on the papyrus.

No, you’re not crazy

Elias of Elderberry

Just very fortunate

Elias let out a long, slow breath. I’m dreaming! This is just a dream.

Not a dream, Elias of Elderberry

And fortunate you are to have come to possess me

For I can give you anything you desire

Anything, Elias of Elderberry

He gulped. Anything?

Anything. You have but to ask

As if a paper could give him anything. Still, he glanced around at his drawings of dragons. The blue hatchling caught his eye—easy enough to hold in the palm of his hand or carry in his backpack. This is so ridiculous! But, all I have to do is ask? Pfft. Right, he said. Okay, I’ll play along. I want, um, that one. He pointed to the blue hatchling. His stomach rumbled. And get me the best pizza ever, Elias added half-jokingly, but when he turned to face the papyrus, it wasn’t there. It was tucked under his arm, and he was sitting in a restaurant with a steamy pizza in front of him. What! Elias jumped up, and the papyrus bounced to the floor then rolled under the table.

A waiter rushed to his side. E ‘tutto bene, signore?

Elias’s mind was in a rush. Where am I? The waiter shrugged, as if he didn’t understand, and then turned to the next table. Elias glanced down at a newspaper left on the table and gasped. La Repubblica, edizione di Repubblica Roma. What? He pulled at tuffs of hair on his head. There was no way! He couldn’t be in Rome!

The waiter returned. E ‘tutto bene, signore?

What? "NO! I am not okay! He whirled around, surveying his surroundings. I mean, yes—I mean, NO!" His heart pounded like a hundred angry drummers as he stared at the end of the pouch sticking out from under the table. He jammed his shaking hands into his arm pits and nodded the waiter off, and then glanced at the others who had returned to eating. With cold, clammy hands, he bent down and picked up the leather pouch.

He sank into the seat, nervously turning the pouch over in his hands. His breath caught in his throat. Something was missing—the gold band. It must have fallen off when the pouch hit the floor. He peered under the table. The gold chain lay in a heap. He bent down to pick it up, but as his fingers neared it, it unwound by itself. What! Elias slammed his head into the underside of the table as the golden snake slithered over his shoe and then climbed his leg.

He couldn’t breathe. This can’t be happening! It’s not real! But the snake continued up his torso and around his neck and then hissed into his ear.

I am Ilzar.

It slithered around the back of his neck then hissed into his other ear.

Are you not pleased?

Elias jumped up. He grabbed at his neck. The thin snake slid down his arm and back around the leather pouch.

The waiter returned. Ti senti bene, signore?

I’m not sure. I think I feel sick.

The waiter tilted his head, but then another customer caught his eye and he turned away. The snake hissed from below.

You do look nauseated.

What do I do n-now? Elias stammered.

You eat the pizza.

Of course, that would make sense, if it wasn’t coming from a piece of golden jewelry, and if he wasn’t sitting in a foreign country halfway across the world. Nonetheless, the sweet aroma of the freshly baked crust, pepperoni, Italian sausages and seasonings tantalized his senses. He tore into the pizza like a beast who had not eaten for days. In fact, he felt like a beast and was unnerved by the strange sensation.

Keenly aware that it was almost 5:30 a.m. back in Maine, he was strangely pleased that his parents would have no idea where he was if they ventured to check his room. His gaze fell to the snake. It was totally awesome that he had fallen into such luck. Why did that boy tell him to destroy such an epic thing? He licked his lips and smugly panned the view of Rome from the large windows.

He still couldn’t believe he—Elias Rey—a fifteen-year-old student from Penquis Valley High was actually in Rome! What harm would it be to see some of the sites? He bent down to Ilesar and demanded, Show. Me. Rome.

Suddenly, he was thrust into a stone cell with thick iron cuffs pressed tight around his wrists. Not funny, Ilzar. He looked around the dimly lit chamber. Ilzar? His voice echoed through the empty room. He squinted, trying to make out shapes in the dark. Rusted iron and wet dirt stung his nostrils. Dusty webs clung to the walls and ceiling and two sets of additional cuffs hung loose beside him. He tugged at the chains bolted to the wall, but they wouldn’t move. Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down the side of his face as he struggled to get free.

A deep moan escaped his throat. Why did he have to be so skinny? If he had any kind of muscle, he might be able to break free. From three inch thick metal—probably not, he sighed. He flexed his scrawny arms against the cool stone. All at once, something skittered up the wall opposite him—something big and black—too big to be a spider. Somehow that thought did not comfort him. Something else brushed against his shoe. He snapped his foot up, as a large river rat scurried past him, and then climbed the opposite wall.

Rats! Not rats! He twisted his legs against the wall as dozens of them appeared from the shadowy corners. They rushed toward the opposite wall and disappeared into a crevice about six feet from the floor. His heart raced. What is going on? Where are they going? His answer came quickly as his feet splashed down into a foot of water that had not been there before.

In a flurry to get to safety several bumped up against him. One tried to climb his leg, but Elias jammed his knee into it, sending it back into the water.

The leather pouch floated into view. Elias swung his legs out, but knocked it farther away. A large rat crawled on top of it, standing the pouch upright in the rushing water. The quick movement sent it nearer to Elias. He stretched his legs out again and caught its side, tumbling the rat into the rising waves. Pulling the pouch closer, he locked his floating legs around it. The water now reached his neck and was lapping against his mouth. Ilzar! Take me from this place!

Ilzar let out a tiny grumble, but straight away they were outside the dungeon, standing on a bridge. Exhausted with fear, Elias fell against its marbled pillars. Picking his trembling head up, he met the gaze of an angel holding a lance. Up and down the bridge, sculptures of angels stood as sentinels against the blue sky.

Wait. I know this place—Ponte Sant’Angelo—the Angel Bridge. It would have been exciting at any other time, but the cool air bit at his wet clothes, he stank like a sewer, and he was terrified. Through chattering teeth, he stuttered, T-take m-me h-home! The words were barely past his lips, when he was thrust back to his bedroom. He heard a commotion downstairs and pushed the wet pouch into his dresser drawer, slamming it shut. He held his stomach and steadied himself against the bedpost, letting a sudden wave of dizziness pass. Ugh. He stuck his head into the hallway and called downstairs. Mom? Dad?

Elias! Ann Weston hurried up the steps and threw her arms around him. "Where have you been? I heard a loud thud in your room and came to check on you, and I—we couldn’t find you anywhere!"

Elias felt guilty, like he had committed a crime. I’m sorry, Mom. He pulled away and pressed his hand into the pit of his churning stomach.

She touched the wet blotch he had left on her clothing. Why are you wet? Her nose wrinkled. Phew! Where is that awful stink coming from? Her mouth dropped open as she studied his face. Elias, you’re so pale!

Clint bounded up the steps. Did you find him, Ann? He rushed into the bedroom, a look of relief flooding his tense face. Where have you been? His eyebrows furrowed and he placed his hand on Elias’s dripping shirt. "What

Reviews for Elias of Elderberry

[lawonder10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Get on Board" for an exciting, fast moving, intriguing, present-meets-past YA series! 'The Sons of Elderberry! Book One was fantastic! I am eager to read the continuing sequels.Do any of us really know who we are and what are real worth is? Fifteen-year-old Elias was soon to discover things beyond his wildest imagination. He just had to share these discoveries with someone! He was certain his best friend Jaron could be trusted. They lived across the street from each other and had been very close since they were very young. It is good that Jaron was such a close friend or he may have hated Elias for involving him in this amazing secret. Neither of them could have ever comprehended the exciting, yet, dangerous experiences this discovery would bring.This is about present day with regular school attendance, yet also, time travel with castles, dungeons, dragons and more!The Cove was a little confusing to me at first but the last half of the novel totally clarified the depiction of the story. It is too dark to be very eye-catching but it is very applicable as is the title.There were many characters well-defined and realistic. Also, the scenes were portrayed very well so the reader was able to easily picture them occurring.My Review of this book offers a Five Stars rating.*I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review, of which I have given.