Bev set her shopping bag down and proceeded to get right to work. She began by pulling and inspecting several of the books and journals from the shelves in front of her. She chose four journals that she wanted to take, and set them on the desk. The last book Bev pulled from the shelf was titled, A Thousand Years. She held the book in her left hand and gently touched the embossed lettering, spelling out the title. Bev opened the book’s cover. Tucked inside she saw a sheet of Dianna’s stationery. She read her name on the salutation and continued to read Dianna’s message. The short note ended by telling Bev if she was now reading this book, she must be searching for answers to a quandary. It was now time for her to know the whole truth about their family. The answers she was searching for were located inside her personal journal. The journal was placed on the top shelf, the first book on the far left. Bev placed the book back on the shelf.
Bev was curious as to why Dianna had placed the message inside that particular book. Why was this the time to know about her family? What secrets had been kept from her? She climbed the library’s ladder to retrieve the book. She pulled Dianna’s journal from the shelf, climbed down the ladder’s rungs and walked to a chair.
Dianna’s journal began with her childhood story. She wrote that her mother was the immortal high sorceress and her father was mortal. When her mother gave birth to her firstborn child, they named her Dianna. When Dianna was a toddler, her father became gravely ill and died. Her mother later married an immortal that was very powerful within the universe. The couple expected another child. When their child was born, they named Dianna’s half-sister Theia. Both sisters were able to claim a birthright within the universe because their mother and Theia’s father were both powerful in the ways of magic. Dianna would eventually claim the throne and the title of the Eminent Sorceress of the earthly realm. Theia would claim the title, Exalted Sorceress.
When the sisters were of age, Dianna fell in love with and chose to marry an “Unknown” man from Earth. He was one of Genevieve’s twin sons. Shortly before their marriage, Dianna’s husband and his brother were documented with the Hub government on Bridgeiro and were allowed to become Sojourners. When the Alistar brothers told the story of their mother traveling to Bridgeiro, the men of the Sojourners’ Council were shocked that a woman could use a Passageway. A year later the Sojourners’ Council voted to allow women the right to be Sojourners. Dianna’s marriage made it possible for her to become a documented Sojourner. Theia married an immortal authority within the Universal Game. Through this union, Theia was allowed to claim the throne of the Goddess of the Universe.
Dianna and her husband lived on Bridgeiro the first years of their marriage. Dianna learned during this time that she was going to have a baby. She and her husband knew that when she neared childbirth, they would return to Earth to have their only child. When their child was born, they named her Abigail. It was necessary for them to rear Abigail on Earth until she was old enough for them to discover if she could also travel to Bridgeiro. After the birth of Abigail, Dianna or her husband would journey back to Bridgeiro when they needed to attend to matters there.
Theia and her husband were also expecting a baby. In order to protect her child, Theia tried to keep her expectant state secret. She estimated that her baby would be born soon after Dianna’s child. She and her husband decided to further conceal their child’s birth by having Theia escape to Earth when the time of the birth was near. They believed having their child secretly born on Earth would protect the baby from the dark magical forces that would try to kill it.
When Theia was close to delivering her child, she escaped to Earth and delivered a baby girl the couple named Beverly. Theia’s short absence from her realm soon caused rumors to be spread throughout the universe that an heir had been born. As Theia and her husband feared, the dark magical powers did indeed search for Theia’s child, but the heiress was never found.
After Beverly’s birth, the two couples deliberated on the best way to move forward. Theia’s husband, aware that rumors were beginning to spread about the birth, was opposed to his wife staying any longer than necessary on Earth. It was decided that she would leave Earth immediately to resume her reign. The child would need to live on Earth to be raised by Dianna and her husband.
The couple decided to raise the two girls as twin sisters. The two girls shared the same birthday and did everything together. Dianna was careful never to be referred to as “mother” by either girl. They always called her by name.
Several Earth years later, the sorcerers on the council decided to once again search for the truth in the persistent rumors that an heir to the magical realm was alive. A mysterious group of sorcerers paid Dianna a visit while her husband was on a serendipitous errand with Beverly. The questions the group asked about the couple’s children made Dianna uncomfortable and worried for the lives of the girls. When Dianna’s husband returned, the couple decided it was becoming too dangerous to live on Earth. Fear of the mysterious sorcerers returning, led the couple to believe it would be safer to reside on Bridgeiro in her husband’s family home. Before the girls could cross through the Passageway, Dianna needed to perform the test. One night she pretended to do a magic trick with her crystal for the girls. When Abigail requested to hold the crystal, Dianna handed it to her. The crystal did not light up. Dianna was sorrowful that Abigail could not cross through the Passageway safely. Beverly also wanted to discover if she could perform the magic trick. When Abigail passed the crystal to her cousin, the crystal lit up brightly from within. Dianna allowed the girls to pass the crystal back and forth for a short time. Then she took the crystal and put the girls to bed.
Several weeks later, Dianna received information from a trusted sorcerer that she and her husband would soon be paid a visit from a dark sorcerer, who had been inquiring about the couple’s two children. Dianna panicked at this news. She and her husband agreed that she would flee with Theia’s child through the Passageway to Bridgeiro. The two would live there, on her husband’s family estate.
**********
Bev closed her eyes and thought back to a conversation she and Abby had overheard while standing at a half opened door, before she and Dianna left Earth for Bridgeiro. Their parents were having a discussion about the future. The two girls only heard part of the conversation that revealed Theia was actually her mother. Since they were raised as twin sisters, the two girls thought Theia was also Abby’s mother as well. Bev opened her eyes and thought about the secrets that had been kept through the years. Now she knew that Abby was her cousin and not her twin, as they once believed.
**********
Dianna continued to write that she had purchased a house on the other side of the city from where her husband and daughter lived. A longtime friend of hers lived nearby. This friend also had a daughter, named Margaret. Dianna believed this house would be the perfect place to live with Beverly when they visited Earth. She set up the Passageway in the basement to enable them to travel to and from Bridgeiro. Dianna then packed her bag when it was time to leave. She told Abigail that Beverly was going on a short journey with her. Abigail’s father asked the two girls to run upstairs and pack Beverly’s bag. When they came back down the stairs, Beverly had her teddy bear and Abigail carried Beverly’s bag. Dianna watched the two girls as they said goodbye. As she was leaving, Beverly handed her teddy bear to Abigail. She asked Abigail to watch over her lovey and to talk to her teddy bear when she was lonely.
When they departed from her family and settled into their new house, Dianna home schooled Beverly. She realized it would be in Beverly’s best interest to have friends for socialization. She asked Margaret’s mother to bring Margaret to their house for a play date. Beverly and Margaret instantly liked each other and became close friends. On occasions Margaret and Beverly would have slumber parties. Although Dianna and Beverly visited Earth frequently, the two lived most of the time on Bridgeiro.
Dianna explained in her journal that her goal was to train Beverly on the old realm wa
y of magic because her mother, Theia, could not. Theia could not take the chance of leading the sorcerers of the dark magical powers to her daughter and heir.
Bev learned that Dianna’s husband continued to live on Earth with Abigail. Dianna kept watch over her daughter through her friends. Several years later Dianna sent for a trusted and very knowledgeable sorcerer name Olannesion to train and mentor Abigail on the ways of old realm magic. He agreed to mentor her daughter. As time passed Olannesion fell in love with Abigail. He asked Dianna if she would grant him permission to marry her daughter. Dianna denied his request for marriage because her daughter was only seventeen years old. Since Olannesion’s residence was in Europe, Dianna was afraid if Abigail married him, she would leave the United States. She requested that the sorcerer cease mentoring Abigail.
Bev thought: Abby and I were both taught the old realm way of magic. No wonder Abby looked at me so strangely when we first met again at her shop. She has her own secrets.
Not long after Olannesion disappeared from her life, Abigail graduated from high school. Her father died of a heart attack the summer after her graduation. Abigail discovered that her father and mother had set up a trust fund in her name. She was able to use the money from the fund to pay her tuition for a college education. Abigail and her boyfriend chose to attend a university in the city. This young man had been her neighbor and schoolmate for many years. During their time at the university Abigail and her boyfriend fell in love. They married soon after they graduated.
Dianna wrote in her journal that she learned of her husband’s death from a sorcerer, who Bev recognized as the man she thought was Dianna’s evil suitor. This sorcerer would come to Dianna’s estate to talk and have dinners together. He would tell Dianna about events that were happening in her daughter’s life. She enjoyed hearing his information. The sorcerer always seemed to play the part of a good friend.
Dianna wrote in her journal that this sorcerer was definitely not considered a friend or a possible suitor. She learned later this man was a very deceitful, powerful sorcerer well connected to the magical realm. He was in fact scheming all along to win her trust in order to eventually find a way to overthrow Theia’s legacy.
**********
Bev stopped reading Dianna’s journal and placed it on the table nearby. She stood and stretched. Then she walked to her old bedroom. After selecting several items she was interested in, Bev then began to search the house for her aunt’s leather case with secure locks to carry the journals. Once she found the case, she returned to the study. Bev placed the family journals inside the case then clicked the locks. She took one last look around the room before picking up the case and her shopping sack. She walked out of the study, securing the double doors behind her.
Bev set her case and shopping bag down by the door in order to pull her scarf over her hair. Kharissa joined her in the hallway. Bev smiled and thanked her. She had found a few items in her jewelry box to give to Kharissa and her family to show her appreciation. Bev took a piece from her sweater pocket. “This one is for you.” She pinned a brooch on Kharissa’s blouse. She pulled two more items from her pocket. She asked Kharissa to hold out her hand and placed a bracelet in it. “This one is for Zaira.” Then she said, “And this is for Precious.” She gave her a dainty necklace. Kharissa protested. Bev shook her head. “I wouldn’t have offered the pieces if I didn’t want to.”
Bev picked up the case and the shopping bag in one hand. She walked over to the front door, opened it and smiled as she closed it behind her.
Kharissa walked over to the window and watched Bev walk away. She thought: There goes a lady with a lot of secrets. She left the window to find Zaira and tell her that Mrs. Jones had left.
Once on the main street, Bev felt the back of her neck shiver like she was being watched. She glanced around the surrounding area but didn’t notice anyone in particular watching her movements. The people on the street seemed to be minding their own business, not paying any attention to her. She chalked up the sensation to being over-cautious.
Bev retraced her previous steps back to the panel with the tiny sunburst. She placed her hand on the panel and pushed. The panel opened and she manipulated the leather case through the opening first, then she stepped through with the sack. Bev breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the panel.
She made her way back to the marketplace, through the crowd. After walking around for a moment, she spotted Carson and Charles watching a demonstration at a kiosk. Bev sneaked up on them and stood behind Carson as if she’d been there for several minutes. He sensed her then turned around to acknowledge her presence.
Carson whispered, “There you are lovely lady.” He took the case and bag from her. They left when the demonstration was finished and headed back to the Passageway.
Chapter 41
Donovan closed the office door. Joseph sat in one of the chairs. For the first time, Donovan sat next to him instead of behind his desk. The two men sat for the longest time going over everything from low to high priority on the compound. By the time they were finished, Joseph had a better handle on the business than he ever had. He was fired up.
Donovan motioned for Joseph to follow him as he walked to the war zone room. Joseph had only been allowed in there once before. The agents in the room continued to work without being distracted as the two men entered the door. The entire room was buzzing with agents moving around like worker bees. The two men went to the large offices located at the back of the room. Joseph entered the doorway. Donovan followed and closed the door. As he dimmed the lights, a seamless glass wall lit up, filled with up to date information that the agents were working on. Donovan pointed out the relevant details of their operation to Joseph. He showed his son how to manipulate what they were viewing by touching the screen.
Donovan explained, “This is the brain and the heart of the empire right here-- the information capitol.” He put a headset on Joseph as he walked his son through what needed to be done.
Joseph manipulated the information on the screen, sending out requests for more details. The workers immediately responded to his commands. He’d never had so much power under his authority. Joseph could feel the adrenaline rush of having control thrusting through his veins.
Donovan apprised Joseph how he could access the remote sector complex on the information board. Joseph moved all the other information to the side of the board and pulled up the secret training facility. He accessed the live training stream. Joseph and Donovan watched as the pawns went through their training exercises.
Donovan walked over to the empty space on the other side of the screen. He brought up a list of all the commanders and pawns in training at that time. Joseph walked over to see what Donovan was doing. He carefully studied the information that was presented on the screen.
Joseph whistled. “An entire military at our command.”
Donovan nodded. “Yes, that’s right. An entire military with a mission.”
Joseph looked at his father and waited for him to continue. Instead Donovan glossed over what he had just stated. Then he pulled up a file that contained maps of the military complex. Donovan went over the maps with Joseph and explained why the complex was designed in that way.
He turned to Joseph and said, “This whole military sector is considered foreign soil under foreign sovereignty.”
Joseph asked, “How is that possible? Wouldn’t that start a war?”
Donovan smirked. “Only if the information were to somehow leak out. The Sojourners’ government officials have many problems to solve right now, so no one is paying attention. They are busy trying to figure out how we maneuvered the breakout at the jail. I doubt they will concern themselves with what is going on over here.” He pointed to the map of the facility. “The Sojourners don’t even currently recognize the Universal Game, or the inhabitable and uninhabitable planets that it represents. Anyway, we’re not going to just offer the information to them and ask permission. It’s not illegal until it’s discovered.
What they don’t know can’t hurt us. By the time they learn about it, we will already be established with our pawns already trained. We’ll already have a strategically defendable compound set up.”
Joseph nodded his understanding. He asked, “Who’s in charge of this operation?”
“You are.”
Joseph stood watching the footage of the pawns training. He didn’t ask for this but he was ready to take control. If Donovan was turning this military operation over to him, then it was going to be the best force the universe had ever seen. He watched the brutal fighting methods and the blood splattering from the hand-to-hand combat taking place. With each blow the pawns executed, he became more and more determined to push the human limits of their military realm. After Joseph monitored the training enough, he walked out and headed for the facility.
Donovan knew his son better than anyone else. He typed in the secret code for the transition to occur. Once the code was received on the other end, the commanders were alerted to the fact that Joseph was now in control and on his way for inspection. They had no idea what to expect but they’d be ready for anything. The commanders anticipated Joseph’s expectations that the training would be hard-core and extreme. They were ready for his inspection.
Chapter 42
When father and son walked into the Hub, Mr. Schluter said, “Todd, I have to say I am amazed at what I witnessed today.” He put his arm around Todd’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Son.” They took a couple of steps and his dad playfully ruffled Todd’s hair.
When they returned to his parent’s house, Todd spoke to his mother telling her about their experience with Johan and the clonsayee creatures. Todd described Johan’s old Marble Track for his mother. He informed her that he thought Johan had put the old Marble Track into the bag he was holding.
Return of the Clonsayee Page 21