The Secrets of Vexdenn (color version)

By Marlow Miller

Full Color Edition: Everard Ambrose is just a boy-that is, unless you ignore the fact that he lives in a mansion.

Everard's life is easy: he lives in luxury in the lavish city of Coverbourne, raised by his aunt and uncle.

But when his hidden magical powers activate on his fifteenth birthday, his lif

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspired Ink LLC
• Release date: Nov 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781962510325

Marlow Miller

I love children of all ages, and love reading to children. It is such a joy watching them grow, not only physically, but socially and mentally as well. I have worked many years with children and have loved every minute. I am always amazed how fast they learn, and I love being a part of that learning process. I have worked in the classroom and in many summer camps for kids and teens, helping them build confidence and self-esteem to conquer their tasks. I have kids of my own that I have encouraged to succeed and be independent, and have many young and teen nieces, nephews, cousins that I have mentored through the years. I have been told I am the best teacher, encourager, and confidence builder many times over. I love seeing everyone succeed, especially in their courage, certainty, and self-esteem.I love sailing, photography, hiking, camping, scuba diving, motorcycle riding, and spending time with family. If it involves water, outdoors or family, then chances are I love it. Marlow Miller

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The Secrets of Vexdenn

The Unseen: Book 1

Marlow Miller

© Copyright 2023 - All rights reserved.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A Terrible Birthday

Chapter 2: A Room of Secrets

Chapter 3: The Grand Escape

Chapter 4: A Smelly Journey

Chapter 5: The Discovery

Chapter 6: Noxious Noxgarde

Chapter 7: Making a Deal

Chapter 8: Lying Low

Chapter 9: An Unsuccessful Investigation

Chapter 10: On The Run

Chapter 11: A Place to Hide

Chapter 12: Plan B

Chapter 13: Gathering Intel

Chapter 14: It's Gadget Time

Chapter 15: Secretly Sneaking

Chapter 16: The Great Break-In

Chapter 17: Shock and Awe

Chapter 18: Explaining Everything?

Chapter 19: Almost Caught

Chapter 20: The Second Grand Escape

Epilogue

To my mom, Gloria, for the inspiration to write books.

To my grandchildren, who continue to inspire me to write stories that matter.

To my readers, keep searching for the truth!

Chapter 1: A Terrible Birthday

For Everard Ambrose, birthdays have always been extravagant affairs. This one will likely be even more so, given that he is turning 15. In the city of Coverbourne, that is very much an incredibly big deal.

There, a fifteenth birthday is traditionally celebrated with a massive hullabaloo. The adults use the opportunity to show the world exactly how extravagant or rich they are, while the children assume that they will be more spoiled than ever before.

Everard has never been quite certain why this is the case. Everyone has always simply gone along with it, like many other traditions in the city.

Everard, dearest, are you ready? Outside of his bedroom, his Aunt Sybil is staring at her Bloom-powered watch, counting along as it ticks down every second. Everyone is waiting for you in the grand ballroom!

Rolling his eyes at his reflection in the mirror, Everard calls back to her. Yes! I'll be down shortly.

He doesn't have the slightest inkling why Aunt Sybil is so consistently obsessed with the passing of time, particularly for the last few days. It is as if it is the only thing she can think about.

Everard fixes up his bow tie a bit more, winks at his reflection, and turns to leave. He has never had much trouble accepting the attention thrown his way. Frankly, he enjoys the affection that regularly showers down on him.

After all, his family is one of the most powerful in the city, and he has always been the poor, sweet orphan whose parents disappeared when he was a baby. All of that has helped him become the city's darling boy: the face of what Coverbourne stands for.

He heads down the long, often unnecessary hallways that build a complex network throughout his family's mansion. There are far too many staring portraits for his taste, but Everard realizes it's necessary. How else could they possibly show the world how unbelievably wealthy they are?

There you are! Uncle Byron stands at the bottom of the grand staircase, tapping his leather-clad foot impatiently on the intricately tiled floor. You know that everyone is waiting for you, don't you?

Aunt Sybil has already rushed me from my room, Everard replies as he reaches his uncle. He wonders if any of them has ever heard about being fashionably late. The grand ballroom, she said.

Uncle Byron does not answer, choosing instead to waddle off in the direction of the party. He reminds most people of a mechanical duck, in the way that he both speaks and moves. Everard usually notices the small nuances that would suggest a mechanical goose instead.

When he reaches the grand ballroom, he realizes that extravagance would be an understatement. Bloom-powered lights hover across the ceiling like strange birds. Every person in the room is from the richest of the city's families, dressed in the most expensive clothes their money could possibly buy. Each table is manned by an entire team of servants, rushing to ensure that not a single smile wilts.

At the very center of the ballroom stands a statue of Everard, a Bloom fountain rushing around its feet.

Oh, wow, Everard breathes. He certainly expected a festival, but this is more than that. It is a glittering, glimmering testimony to his life. He feels more important than he ever has.

What do you think, dear? Aunt Sybil asks suddenly beside him. He turns to her with his eyes wide, but that changes in a hurry when he notices her outfit. Everard doesn't think that he's ever quite seen that many feathers on a single human being.

You... look a bit like a big yellow bird, Everard points out, but Sybil only titters behind one hand and shakes her head.

My sweet boy, she says, patting him on the shoulder and leaving a single feather behind on his meticulous suit. I couldn't simply fit in with the crowd, now could I? Especially not on such a momentous day as today! I mean, we are absolutely counting the seconds to your True Birthday.

Her eyes flicker, and she hopes that Everard did not see the worry in them. As grand and fantastic as a day like this is, the ridiculous lengths that the adults of Coverbourne's high society go to for True Birthdays are often little more than window dressing—a method of distraction if things should go horribly awry.

Come, come, Everard, Uncle Byron calls from halfway across the room. Greet your guests. Don't be rude!

Everard sighs. He enjoys attention, but he's not such a great fan of other people. Most of the time, what is important to them lies on the surface of human existence. They never discuss anything of any substance—a type of conversation that Everard can sometimes enjoy, but not as often as they seem to.

He goes around the room, greeting bankers with big bellies and their sarcastic spoiled daughters, and fake-smiling at politicians and their unhappy wives: the general population of high society.

Luckily, once he's said a warm hello to the last guest, his aunt and uncle go to stand beside the statue of Everard, clinking their glasses to gain everyone's attention.

Welcome one and all to this esteemed occasion, Uncle Byron booms, so loudly that some of the Bloom-lights on the ceiling shudder. Today, we celebrate a grand young man, the future of Coverbourne!

A polite clap and a few rude cheers flutter through the crowd. Everard nods to those who acknowledge him, bowing when they're important enough.

It is Everard Ambrose of the Ambrose family's True Birthday in around 5.65 minutes, Aunt Sybil adds tearily, wiping at her nose with a fragile bit of cloth. As such, we believe it is time to lead you all to the stables, to showcase our present to him as his guardians and his closest family!

Everard raises an eyebrow as people start to speculate in whispers about what this present could be. He'd thought it would be the statue, or this over-the-top social occasion. He hasn't been expecting anything else. Even so, he's curious. What else could his aunt and uncle have in store for him that could possibly top all of this?

The walk down to the stables takes exactly four and a half minutes. It is likely a new record, with how both Uncle Byron and Aunt Sybil basically break into a jog only halfway through. The rest of the guests and Everard are forced to keep up with them. Luckily, the road there is paved with some skill, and nobody trips over any of the stones.

The stables are where the family keeps their mechanical horses. Everard has never owned more than a much-too-small mechanical pony himself that he received when he was 10. It's a fairly nice animal, but Everard has always been far too big to ride it. Instead, he'd take one of his aunt's stallions or one of his uncle's mares.

Here we are, Aunt Sybil announces at the entrance to the stables, swinging on her heels so fast that her feathers smack the closest politician in the face. Oh, apologies. I simply cannot contain my excitement.

To Everard, she seems more nervous than excited. He's not wrong.

In any case, Uncle Byron adds, smiling at his wife as brightly as he is able. Shall we reveal our dear boy's gift?

Aunt Sybil nods to him, and the two of them go to stand on either end of the stable doors. Their hinges light up with Bloom before they're pulled open to reveal a massive black mechanical stallion. Its mane and tail, made of Bloom wires, glimmers in the gloom of the dusky stable lights.

Every gear on its body moves methodically, smoothly, precisely. It will be years before this beauty will need a single oil change.

It's certainly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, Everard comments, stepping forward through the awestruck crowd. He doesn't notice his aunt and uncle's eyes dwelling on their watches, or the drops of sweat that have formed on their foreheads.

Everard reaches out a hand after removing its glove, wanting to feel the unscathed steel beneath his fingers. His feet take yet another step, and another. Aunt Sybil and Uncle Byron are by this point holding their breath and turning rather crimson in their faces.

It is time, they both think, watching their nephew terribly closely.

They each let go of their breath, relieved, when Everard touches the stallion and nothing happens, aside from the horse releasing steam from its nose.

Unfortunately, their relief is amazingly short-lived.

Out of the very blue, the stallion's circuitry goes haywire. Bloom starts to bleed from its mane at a pace that would certainly fry every gear. It rears its front feet in the air as sparks begin to fly wildly from its body.

It shakes its head as if it has suddenly become possessed.

Everard takes a step back, surprised at this sudden development. Surely a horse of this quality wouldn't break from a single pat to the shoulder.

Ah, uh, well, that's that! Nothing more to see here. Please return to the ballroom for the birthday meal! Aunt Sybil announces to the crowd, stepping into the barn beside her husband and forcing the doors to close in the faces of their guests.

Oh no, oh no, mutters Uncle Byron as he grabs Everard tightly by the arm. I truly hoped this wouldn't be the case.

There was always the possibility, Aunt Sybil replies with a sigh. We must implement the plan.

Everard is more than a little confused when his uncle starts dragging him toward a mysterious new trapdoor at the center of the barn. Behind him, the stallion is still recovering from its wild breakdown.

Wait, what plan? What are you talking about? Everard asks, trying to fight back, but Uncle Byron literally has an iron grip. He lost