Spellbound: Book One (The Spell Series)

by Herndon, Brittney

  “You’re trying to trick me,” he smiled and Irene clenched her jaw, wondering if this man was a mind reader.

  “No, I am not a mind reader,” he chuckled. “That’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it? I’m not a mind reader, just a good reader of people.”

  Without thinking, she exploded in desperation. “I may have been trying to trick you, but I wasn’t lying about the antidote for the king! He’ll die if we don’t return with his healing potion soon!”

  The old man studied her. The wheels in his mind grinding in some emotion that Irene could not place. What was it, curiosity? Amusement?

  “I’ll make you a deal,” he slowly said, Irene hanging on his every word. “I’ll allow you safe passage from my domain and the feather you need in exchange for something.”

  “Exchange?” She did not like where this was going.

  “For something very valuable in your possession.”

  Her hands flew to her necklace.

  “No, not that. I believe the object I want is in the pocket of your little satchel, there.”

  She fumbled through the wet material before pulling out a small, pink pearl. “You mean this? I found this in the ruins of the Old Kingdom.”

  “I’m sure you’d have no use for such a worthless ornament,” he smiled, creeping closer.

  He moved to take the pearl, but Irene jerked away. The way this man’s shaking hands and hungry eyes locked on to the object gave her some power, and she knew it. He desperately wanted the little trinket and she would play it to her advantage.

  “Here’s the new deal,” she declared and the old man frowned. “I will give you this if you allow me safe passage back to Longfellow's Port along with a Red Raven’s feather and,” she straightened her back, “you tell me everything you know about my spell.”

  “Ah! So, you were curious of how I knew about your spell!”

  “Do we have a deal or what?”

  He nodded his head in agreement. “Shall we begin?” he asked, extending his hand.

  “You first!” she demanded clutching the treasure in her hand tighter.

  The old man set off in a rant of grumbles as he called a Red Raven closer and the bird sprang to his feet. With one swift motion, her capturer plucked a feather and Irene watched the angry creature release a painful cry.

  “For you, my fair lady.”

  Irene snatched the feather and placed it inside her bag, along with her Black Lilac. “And my spell?”

  “I haven’t forgotten.” He shot back before reclining back down in his throne. “Having dabbled in the magical arts myself for some years, I could easily sense the spell the minute you were brought here. I was very surprised, these kinds of spells were normally only used on prisoners or convicts and you hardly look like a convict.”

  Irene nearly smiled at his amusing comment. “Looks can be deceiving,” she said.

  “So they can be.” His dark gray eyes bore into Irene’s before coming to the definite conclusion that she was not a thief. “Hundreds of years ago, the wizards of the Old Kingdom had originally created that spell to be used by the castle guards to ensure the detainment of corrupt souls and those wishing to do harm. Quite handy, that spell. It sure did beat having to fear some insane murderer escaping and wreaking havoc on the streets. That very spell was the reason for the revolution that brought about the new blood line for the throne, you know.”

  “Why? It seems like a good idea.”

  “Like a good idea? Does it really? I suppose it does in theory, except the kings started to try and use it on their own people, innocent people. A lot of things tend to start out with good intentions, but they rarely stay that way. Just as there are those who would use it to protect, others would use it to do harm.”

  “How do I break it?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “We had an agreement! You would tell me how to break my spell!”

  “The agreement was I would tell you about the spell, not how to break it. Besides, I don’t know how and seeing as I have now kept my end of the bargain, it is time for you to keep yours.”

  Although the mysterious stranger had kept his end of the deal-- so far-- Irene had the inkling feeling that something was not right. She somehow knew that he was not going to just let her leave that easily.

  “Command one of your Raven’s to take me back to Longfellow's Port and then I will hand the pearl over to be brought back to you.”

  “You insolent child, I will have it now!” He lunged to grab her, prying her fingers open. The pearl slipped from her grip and rolled into the shadows as she began to run down the only open passage in the cave.

  “Stop her! We can’t have her escaping!”

  His army of red warriors pursued her, but the passage was far too narrow for all of them to fly properly. The birds, quickly readjusting their plan of attack, took to the ground while their alpha male kept dominion of the air. They tore and ripped at her legs, but Irene pushed through the pain and broke into a furious run when the smell of fresh air assaulted her face.

  “Get off!” she screamed, ripping her satchel free from a jagged beak.

  She rounded a corner to be greeted by a bright lavender sky and emerging stars. Irene burst from the cave and screamed when she nearly fell to her death. The trees below her looked like little green specks splashed across a brown canvas.

  An explosion of bright red burst from beside her, the Red Ravens angrily circling the mountain side as they flew from the cave’s entrance. Irene began her descent down the mountain, unsteadily at first. The wind was cold and relentless, but not nearly as relentless as the blood thirsty pest that kept ripping into her.

  “I am not going back!” she screamed as razor sharp talons gripped her shoulders.

  She fought, struggled, and scratched herself free, the bird releasing her to circle once more before coming back for a second attack. She could not handle another assault. Her aching fingers and trembling arms could barely handle clinging to the unforgiving mountain wall, much less fight off another monstrous beast.

  Irene looked down before focusing on the Red Raven that was fast approaching. She didn’t have any time to worry that her plan would not succeed and she released the edge, the red beast crashing into the boulders where she had been merely seconds ago.

  She fell, landing on a Red Raven and grabbing hold of the two ivory horns perturbing from its head. They scrambled for dominance, each pulling and thrusting causing the bird to awkwardly bobble like a buoy in water.

  “You will take me to Longfellow's Port!” she panted, but the bird still resisted. “I know you can understand me. If you don’t hurry, the others just may turn on you to get to me!”

  The bird squawked, but stilled. They both could see the other Red Ravens beginning to position for another attack. Wanting to preserve its own existence, the bird dived as the others gave chase.

  “I’ll never make it to Longfellow's Port,” the bird squawked, “but I can make it to the forest floor.”

  The specks of green Irene had seen from the cave’s mouth rapidly grew into pillars or bark and leaves. Night was steadily approaching with each passing second, a blanket of darkness devouring them from sight as they maneuvered through the outstretched branches.

  They landed in a field as Irene hastily dismounted. She was expecting another fight, for the massive creature to come at her in anger, but it did not. Large, red eyes pierced her one more time before the Red Raven dramatically extended its wings and took to the sky.

  Her footsteps were heavy as she ran. It was only when her lungs began to scream for air did Irene collapsed onto the green earth. Not sure whether she wanted to cry or laugh, she settled on both. She had retrieved the feather, but now she was hopelessly lost.

  Now that Irene was alone, she pulled the Red Raven’s feather from its pouch to examine it more closely. It was beautiful she thought, tracing its sleek edge. She moved to return her new possession to its hiding place when she felt something unexpected. Lying
among the wispy folds of the Black Lilac was a familiar sphere. Pushing aside the contents of her bag she gasped, staring into the face of the smooth, pink pearl.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “What are you waiting for? Come and get me!” It was dawn. The sun had just awoken from a deep slumber to begin its trek across the sky as a young woman stood poised to fight, her eyes radiating such a heated gaze that not even Sora would want to be the receiving end of it. Irene had not sleep well that night, the soft whispers and scrambling creatures of night had made sure of that.

  She was heading west, having remembered seeing a patch of mountains when arriving at Longfellow's Port. Irene began her journey praying that the distant peaks she had seen yesterday were the same mountain range where her kidnapper had hidden his undiscovered treasure trove. Not thinking much of the distant hills at the time, she had pushed the seemingly unimportant detail to the back of her mind until last night when it had suddenly resurfaced.

  “Stop playing with me!” Irene screamed again into the eerily still forest. She knew someone was watching her, having felt the penetrating eyes of some unknown entity on her since she had awoken. It’s the Red Ravens, she thought. The cruel monsters were toying with her.

  “How did you obtain all of that Black Lilac?” a wispy voice asked and Irene jumped. “Did you somehow manage to steal it?” the voice asked again, becoming angry. Irene, too, was beginning to lose her patience. Everywhere she turned she could only see the familiar thicket and entwining tree roots that covered the forest floor.

  “I didn’t steal anything! The fairies of the valley gave it to me and I do not like being called a thief!”

  “Liar! The fairies would never give Black Lilac to a human. It is forbidden.”

  “I am not a thief or a liar!” Irene spat. “Why don’t you stop being a coward and show yourself?”

  The voice did not respond and Irene was beginning to think that the annoying pest had fled, that is, until she felt something pulling at her hair.

  “I am not allowed. Humans are nothing, but trouble.”

  “Are you a fairy?” Irene breathed, the pieces of the puzzle finally coming together. “If you show yourself, I’ll tell you how I came across all this Black Lilac.”

  “I’m not sure…” The voice was hesitant. “If the others found out.”

  “I won’t tell, if you won’t.” Irene said, waiting. “Are you still there?”

  Irene received her answer when the fairy appeared with her bright blue eyes and translucent wings fluttering with a rush of emotions. A mane of white hair flowed down her little back as green vines and leaves wound around her pale form, offering what Irene assumed was some sort of clothing.

  “You’re even more beautiful than I’d thought you be.” Irene sat down to stare at the magical creature.

  “Humans are easily impressed.” The fairy answered as she planted herself on Irene’s knee. “Now, tell me how you came into possession of all that Black Lilac.”

  Irene proceeded to tell her new companion the entire story of Sora sending her on a quest to help save the king and how she had been taken by the Red Ravens.

  “His name was Archer.”

  “Who?”

  “The silver fox, his name is Archer and he’s no ordinary fox.”

  “I already gathered that,” Irene replied.

  “If you were trying to head back to the human village on the river you were going the wrong way. It’s to the West,” the fairy curtly said.

  “I am heading west, aren’t I?”

  The fairy laughed and Irene blushed.

  “I will accompany you. Without help, you’ll never make it back to your village.”

  They talked of many things, the creatures of the forest, Sora, and Prince Alec. After several attempts of pleading, Irene had finally convinced the fairy to reveal that her name was Epona. Irene felt a wave a relief rush into her weary soul. Perhaps for once things were going her way, she thought. She just wondered how long it would last.

  “What’s the next item on your list?” Epona asked.

  “My next, and last, ingredient is a tear from something call a Dragon Turtle. I once came across the name in one of Sora’s books, but it was only briefly mentioned. Why are you laughing?”

  Epona was indeed laughing. Her delicate arms wrapped around her small stomach in a failed attempt to control the high pitch giggles that sprang from her lips.

  “The legendary Dragon Turtle? Not even I’ve seen it.”

  “They no longer exist?” Irene asked in horror.

  “Oh no! They exist. The problem is, just like fairies, they can’t be seen unless they want to be.”

  Irene could feel her despair steadily growing and the prospect of her successfully completing her task was growing dimmer by the second.

  “Archer would know how to find them,” Epona chimed. “As I said before, he’s no ordinary fox.”

  “Epona please, I barely have over three days left to find the last of the ingredients. I need to know now!”

  Epona nodded, “I will go this instant and see him.” She zoomed off, but not before turning around to yell. “Keep going! Your human village is straight ahead. You’ll be there before long!”

  She could hear the rushing water before she saw it, Trenton’s ship bobbing on the other side of the raging river. No one was aboard, but she could see the forms of people coming and going on the worn dock. Irene had not known how wide this river had been until now, Trenton’s ship looking like a child’s toy in the distance. It reminded her of a wooden boat she used to play with as a child. She had loved that boat, Irene reminisced. It had been her pride and joy, that is, until Sora had gotten a hold of it. Irene had cried for days after the old hag and cruelly destroyed it.

  “Alec! Conner!” she screamed, hoping to see their familiar silhouettes appear. Either they could not hear her, or the not so friendly villagers were ignoring her cries. She prayed it was not the latter.

  If only she had learned how to swim, she angrily thought. Not that she had ever really had the opportunity. A little fish began to nibble on the end of the finger that was slightly emerged into the muddy water.

  “You wouldn’t happen to know of anyone who could help me get across, do you?” At the sound of her voice the fish zoomed away to hide among the seaweed and algae. Irene huffed, “I guess I’ll be finding my own way across.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  This could work and she knew it or, at least, that’s what she told herself. She was beginning to lose her courage as she approached the water’s edge. Irene glanced to the swiftly flowing rapids and then back to the make shift raft she had spent the last hour constructing. Her hands hurt, her feet hurt, but most of all, her stomach hurt. The constant gnawing she felt in the pit of her belly was not only a result from the grueling work of dragging branches and tying vines, but also from the fact that she had not eaten all day. Irene pushed the small raft into the river as she tried to gain her footing enough to climb aboard.

  “She’ll never make it on that ol’ raggedy thing.”

  Irene froze at the mocking whisper.

  “Maybe we should help her,” a second voice asked.

  “Are you crazy? Who knows what would happen if we help her!”

  Irene crept toward the bushes that seem to rustle with each word that emanated from its dark green leaves. A scream erupted as Irene pulled back the foliage and two bodies leapt from their hiding place. The fierce eyes of a young boy and the surprised expression of an even younger girl emerged.

  “Run, Abby!” the boy yelled before bounding away.

  “Wait!” Irene gave chase. “Please, could you help me get across?” Irene had lost sight of them, hoping her sincere pleas would prompt them to surface from whatever hole or den they had taken refuge. “I don’t have any money to pay you. All I can offer is my deepest gratitude.”

  Irene turned and headed back to the bank when she received only silence, praying that the children were not right about her old, ragge
dy raft. What little confidence she had mustered was beginning to slip away from her like water through a crack and Irene couldn’t seem to bring herself to try and attempt to board the swaying vessel again.

  “That piece of junk won’t last on those rapids.” The voice was conceded and condensing, but at the same time a welcomed distraction from her current situation.

  “You came back!” Irene exclaimed. The young girl smiled in return, but the boy looked as sour as Sora when another one of her potions would go up in smoke.

  “We’ll give you a ride to the other side, but after that you’d better get lost! It’s not safe for us to be seen with you,” he replied.

  Irene followed the children a little way down the river until they came to a sturdy boat.

  “Get in and grab a paddle.”

  Irene obeyed the boy’s command as he gave the boat one final heave and they were soon paddling against the current. Bags of fruits and blackberries were scattered at their feet and Irene could not rip her eyes away from the tantalizing treats.

  “Mind if I have an apple? I haven’t eaten in a while.”

  “Yes, we mind! It took us all day to gather that much food.” The boy snarled. “I can’t imagine what they’d want with you.”

  “Who?” Irene asked.

  “The scary looking guys who showed up in town this morning. They’ve been searching the village looking for you and some rich fellow.”

  “There must be some mistake,” Irene stammered. Why did it always seem fate was conspiring against her, she inwardly groaned.

  “I don’t think so. They described you to a tee, even the gold chain around your neck.”

  They hit shore and scrambled to collect their belongings. Irene huffed as she picked up a rather large bag, wanting to thank her rescuers for their help by carrying some of the heavy cargo.

  “Beat it. We don’t need your help.” The boy snatched the bag from her arms, nearly falling over from its weight. “Come on, Abby. We need to hurry.”