For those who Believed,
And for those who Didn’t. I love you all.
Essentia The Heart of Aelmere
By Ninana Howard
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events 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. Including Fictional Character’s, Places and Names.
© 2016 Author Ninana Howard All rights reserved.
© Publisher Createspace. All distribution, sales and advertising.
Content, Editing, Cover design done by Ninana Howard.
If You wish to use any part of the content or cover, Please Email Me at [email protected] To get permission.
The Curse of Aelmere Series
Book 1
Book 1 The Heart of Aelmere – Now Available
Book 2 The Torment of Aelmere – Coming Soon
Book 3 The Healing of Aelmere – Coming Soon
Chapter One
Terra’s Dream
Well, its has happened again. For the last five months, I have had the same dream almost every night. It always starts out with me standing alone in a vast field under the biggest tree I have ever seen. The leaves are full and green like something you would see in the spring time. The color of the sky can only be described as a very dreary shade of gray. If that wasn't ominous enough, after only a few moments the wind starts to blow, and the rain falls from the dark clouds above. Lightning can be seen on the other side of the field, soon followed by loud thunderous crashes which seem to echo around the entire area. But for some odd reason, I always feel safe standing beneath that massive tree, like it is protecting me from the storm.
The feeling of something or someone watching is always present in the dream, I just can't get a grasp of what or who it is, but that's all it is, just a sense of 'something' is out there. I'm never scared during these dreams just the opposite. The sensation of longing and warmth are associated with what I have come to believe is My Tree. It is always the same. Never changing. I have sat countless days trying to figure it out.
When it first started, I didn't think anything of it. Just another dream I thought. Like a song that gets stuck in your head and keeps repeating over and over. So I just thought that it would eventually go away. It hasn't, just repeating every night like clockwork. As I reflect on this, someone grabbed my arm and jerked me backward “What the Hell?" I yelled out.
"Sorry lady, you were about to walk out into the road," a man said. Just realizing where I was, I almost panicked. Apparently while daydreaming on my way to work at the local book shop I almost got ran over. Just my luck huh? I say to myself.
I guess I need to say something to the man that saved me today. Yes, this isn't the first time this has happened. I am quite accident prone. I turn around to thank the guy, but no one was there. I guess that he took off after I yelled at him. I can't really blame him. I would have left to if a stranger was to yell at me. I kinda feel bad for hollering at a complete stranger, but he scared me when he grabbed my arm. If I had only seen his face then I could tell him thank you and sorry if I ever saw him again, but I didn't. Oh well, maybe we will meet again sometime under better circumstances I hope.
After finally making it to work and open up for the day. I start to catalog and price the new arrivals, sorting out the new books from the used and the antique ones. Taking special care with the antique rare books. As long as I could remember, I have always loved the smell of old books. That musty aged smell always makes me feel comfortable for some reason, like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day. Or recounting old happy memories from years past.
While I'm knee deep in books in the back of the shop the front door jingles with the sound of the old brass bells, I found at an antique shop a few weeks ago. "One minute, I will be right with you," I say.
A cheerful voice replies "It's just me" then a small giggle. Abby, my best friend. I've known Abby since my first year at college. If I had to describe her, it would be bubbly and over the top. Sometimes hard to handle but all in all, she is a great friend.
As I come from the back of the shop, I see her sitting in an old chair talking to Jeremy. Another friend of ours, we met a couple of years ago at a theme club called The Norpool. We have all been thick as thieves since then. Norpool was a pretty fun place. Come to think of it, we haven't been there in a while. Maybe I will ask Abby and Jeremy if they want to go this weekend. It feels like it’s been ages since I have gone out for something other than going antiquing and buying books. Man, I sound like an old maid. Here I am 27 years old, single and acting like a spinster. Something has got to change. I sigh to myself. I'm still young and healthy. I have to do something about this. I need a change of pace, an adventure so to speak. I think this as I head over to talk to my friends while trying to hide a yawn.
"Hey guys, what kinda trouble are you up to today?" I say with a big smile. They are always out doing stuff together, or rather Jeremy was always doing stuff for Abby.
"None yet, we were hoping you would have an idea," Abby said with her trademark giggle.
Jeremy laughed and looked at me with his head cocked to the side and said "I'm just tagging along, Are you alright?"
"Yea, you look tired today. You ain't sick are you?" Why are both of them asking if I'm ok. I do not feel bad or anything.
"I feel fine. Why do I look bad?" I ask. Running my hand through my hair and feeling my cheeks. Looking to check my clothes to see if I had missed any buttons or wore two different shoes again. I have two pairs of shoes that are made the same. Except that one pair is navy blue, and the other is black. I had made that stupid mistake a couple of times to many, rushing out of the house.
"No, you just look tired, dark circles and all," Abby said. Pointing to her eyes. I Guess I am tired; all I do is work. Plus, Thinking about my reoccurring dream all of the time. It must be taking a toll on me.
"I am a little tired." replying in a small voice. To be honest, I am worn out.
"Well, that is just not gonna work." Abby paused looking over at Jeremy then adding in an over excited voice "We are gonna go out this weekend. You Are in desperate need of a drink and a tall drink" Then she winked. Riddles, I love her to death but, she talks in riddles all of the time.
"Abby honey, I am way too tired to try and figure out what you mean by that,” I say with a laugh. Shaking my head in confusion.
Jeremy then spoke up "I believe our friend here is suggesting you need a drink and a man." Blushing from the statement he looks away, it's cute when he gets all shy.
"EXACTLY!" Abby added. We all laugh together. Only she would think of something like that. She is always chasing men. Never really settling on one.
After quietly listening to them talk back and forth, I tell them "Actually, I was just thinking when you guys showed up, that we needed to go back to The Norpool. It's been awhile since we went dancing. Maybe we can pick up another tag along" I say, poking my thumb at Jeremy.
"HEY, I heard that." Jeremy blurted out looking defeated. We bust out in another round of chuckles at his expense. Soft hearted as always.
"That's a good idea. What time do you get off Friday Terra?" Abby asked. Terra, I always wondered why I was named that. It sounds like terracotta. I am not a flower pot. I think to myself. "Earth to Terra. You here with us?" Abby snapped me out of my thoughts
"Yes, sorry. What was the question?". I did it again. Spaced out, lost in thought. I have been doing that a lot here lately.
"I asked. What time do you get off on Friday?" She semi huffed out at me. Abby's pet peeve is someone not listening to her. I don't mean to do it, it just happens.
"I get off at 5" flashing a big goofy smile at her
which makes her giggle. That's usually all it took to get her back in a good mood.
"Ok, Me and Jeremy will pick you up a 7. So be ready ok. I mean it." she says shaking her finger at me like I am a toddler or something. She really is funny when she gets flustered.
"Alright, alright" I say with my hands held up in surrender. I know full and well that if I am not ready when she gets there, she will do a lecture on timing. I laugh to myself.
Jeremy popped up and said, "Who said I was coming?" Crossing his arms in defense.
Abby placed her hand on his shoulder. "Of course you're coming. What kind of friend sends his two hot lady friends into the lion's den with no protection?" Man, she's laying it on thick this time. She could get Jeremy to do anything if she batted her pretty eyes at him.
He put his hand on his forehead and sighed. "Alright. I'll go, you know Abby, one of these days that's not gonna work" Abby almost doubled over in laughter When I said “Yea, but not today Jeremy" giving him a big smile.
"One of these days I'm gonna let those so called lions eat you" he mumbled. I don't think Abby heard him. I just patted him on the back with a sympathetic smile. I know he has a thing for her. But she hasn't realized it. Which is kinda sad. I think they would make a cute couple.
After chatting about random things for a little while, Jeremy declared he was hungry. So he dragged Abby out of the book shop after making sure I didn't want anything. That boy can sure eat. I don't think I have ever seen anyone eat as much as he does. I laugh to myself as I get back to work.
Come five o’clock, I walk to the front of the shop to flip over the closed sign and lock the door. On my way, I see that there are a couple more boxes of books I hadn't put up yet. I must have overlooked them while my friends and I was chatting. I think to myself 'I might as well go ahead and put them up, so I don't have to do them Friday.' I started unpacking them and realized that there are some really old books in this shipment. Getting a good look at them and making sure the spines and bindings were in good shape, I placed the ones that need to be repaired in a separate stack, I price them and put them in the appropriate spots in the antique display case.
One more box and I can get out of here. I sigh to myself. I open the last box to find that it had a beautiful wooden box inside it surrounded by packing peanuts. The box had the words Bohyne Terra carved into it. I don't recognize the language, but it clearly says Terra on it. I wave it off as just a coincidence, so I think nothing of it. I pick up the ornately carved box from inside the shipping box and packing material. Being careful not to drop it. Thinking the entire time that this must be an incredibly valuable book for it to be shipped this way.
After setting the box on the table I use for book repair, I turn on my light and I start to inspect the carvings on it. On each side of the box, there is this beautifully carved mural of warriors in battle. The men with long hair, armor and giant swords and shields. It looks like something out of a fantasy storybook. On the front panel, a gorgeous woman is holding a bouquet of flowers in her left hand and a book in the other, her hair blowing in the wind. She is wearing a beautiful corseted looking dress. 'A book. How fitting' I thought to myself. On the lid, there is beautiful scrollwork carved around the corners along with the words Bohyne Terra. The box its self is a work of art. After I get done admiring the Beautiful box, I straighten it on the table.
"I bet the book inside is just as Beautiful" I say out loud. Not wanting to wait any longer I go to open the lid and it won't open. "Hmm, maybe it's stuck." No matter how hard I try, it won't open. Maybe it has a secret lock or something. Like some of those Chinese puzzle boxes I have seen. I feel around the edges and the bottom, but nothing is there." There has to be a way to open it". Scratching my head, I can't figure it out. I have never had this much trouble trying to get to a book. I laugh inwardly. Oh well, it's getting late I guess I can work on it some more tomorrow. I decide to put the box in the shops safe, just in case it is valuable. Not saying we don't have expensive books because we do carry some but, I just have a feeling that this particular one is special for some reason.
After locking up the box and turning the lights out, I head out the front door and lock that up too. It still feels kinda odd locking up the shop by myself. I bought this old bookstore from Mrs. Bowden right after college and I have been here ever since. Mrs. Bowden was an eccentric old lady. Probably in her early 70's. She always wore really wild and vibrant colored clothes and lots of jewelry. She kinda reminded me of an old Gypsy. And she loved to gossip. I giggled at the memories I have of her. I used to come to this shop a lot and had been since before I started college. I always loved her odd book collections. She always held the books that she thought I would be interested in reading.
The last time I saw her, I had gone to the Broken Bindings Bookstore. She was talking to me about wanting to travel the world. I thought to myself. 'Why in the world would a 70 something-year-old woman want to travel the world. So I asked her.
"Because I have seen many many different worlds in my books." She looks around at all of the books on the shelves. "But I have never actually seen much of the real world. I would like to do that before I die," she said with a faraway look on her face. I was shocked at what she said next. "So I have decided to sell My Bookstore." I just stared at her for a moment.
"Well, how much do you want for it?" I asked her with a smile on my face. She and I joked with each other all the time.
She looked at me with a serious expression on her face. "Well, how much you got?". Ha ha ha.
She’s joking with me now. So I told her "I have thirty-five hundred in my savings" Then I laughed. But she didn't laugh with me. The only response was "Sold".
Was she serious? Huh? "You can't mean that. That's way too little for this shop Mrs. Bowden. It is worth way more than I can pay" I replied. With all of the rare books alone it had to be worth over a hundred thousand.
"Don't be silly child. I don't need the money. I just want someone that respects and cares for the books and I don't know anyone else that would care for this shop like you would." she said with a smile. I cannot believe that she wants to sell it so cheap. Even if she doesn't need the money, it would be a huge loss.
Astonished at what she said I told her "I do love this little shop." And I did. Very much so. I have since the day I walked in the doors.
"I know you do Hun. It's yours if you want it." What was I supposed to say? It's always been my dream to have my own bookstore.
So I told her "Of course I want it. But are you sure on the price?".
"Yes dear. Just bring me three thousand dollars and it's yours" She chirped. So that's how I ended up owning the Broken Bindings Book Store. She still sends me postcards now and then from whatever country she is in. A couple of times she has sent me books from far off lands as she says. I laugh at the thought.
As I continue home, I walk my usual route. It's dark and not very well lit, but this has always been a relatively safe neighborhood. So I have never really been scared of walking by myself. I don't live but two blocks away from my little shop which is very convenient.
Once I get to my little house, I unlock my door and step inside. Bolting it behind me. I put my stuff down on the table in the living room, and I hear a familiar sound. "Meow, meow." "Hey there Le'ander." The big ball of Black fluff wrapped his self around my leg. "You want to eat some dinner?" I ask Him. "MEOW!" He yelled up at me while he was stretching. "Excited to eat as always I see." I laugh at him. I go to the kitchen and fix his food for him.
While he eats, I go to my room and put my comfortable pajamas on. Then I go sit on the couch with my laptop. I go to my search engine and type in the words that were carved on that beautiful box. Bohyne Terra, Enter. SO for the next couple of hours I read various things about the Goddess Terra. Mother earth. Bohyne was Slavic for goddess. So maybe the box and its contents are from one of the Indo-European countries.
"Hmm, I guess I wasn't named after a flowerpot." I laugh at myself. My best guess would
be that the book that is hidden in the box has something to do with mythology from a foreign country. "I will figure it out eventually," I say to myself. Well, enough of this for tonight, it has been a long day. After a small meal of leftover Chinese and a much-needed bath, I head to bed for the night.
Tucked in my warm bed all nice and cozy, I lay there thinking about the events of the day. My friends, the new books at the store and the mysterious box I still can’t get off my mind. What secrets does that unopen able carved box hold? After thinking on this for a few more minutes, I finally doze off.
Chapter Two
Terra
There it is. My Tree. It's big sturdy branches and its full foliage on display. Wait. Something feels different this time. It's a strange feeling. Like something has changed. The sky was still angry, but it wasn't as dark as it usually is. The wind blows as usual, whipping the leaves to and fro. I feel it though. Only just a little. In all five months, I have never felt the wind in my dream field. What's different though? Why has it changed?
The rain follows, thick as usual. I guess, not everything is different. I sigh. Lightning strikes far off in the distance, lighting up the sky like a strobe light. It really is beautiful to watch. I am just glad it’s far off. While waiting for the thunder to crash which is what always happens next, I look around and glance up at My Tree. I have never seen it lose any of its leaves, but low and behold two leaves are fluttering to the ground. I reach out to grab one.
Just then a Sorrowful voice said “Bohyne." Just barely louder than a whisper. I jumped at the sudden intrusion in my dream. Never has there been a voice other than mine in my dreams. Shaking I say "Hel-hello?" Stuttering my words. "Hello? Is there someone there?"
The same sad far off voice replied “Bohyne help me." The voice sounds so forlorn, almost as if they are in pain.
"Are you alright?" I ask trying not to stumble over my words again. "What's your name?" I ask. The distant voice started to reply "The---" BUZZZZZZZZZ BUZZZZZZZZZ BUZZZZZZZ. I wake with a shock. My alarm clock Buzzing in the background. Uhhh, Morning already? "Meow, Meow MEOW!!" Sometimes I hate having a pet. "Alright, Alright I'm up" sighing I pull myself up out of the bed and look at the Loud ball of fur. "Ok Le'ander, I'm up. I guess you want food huh?". His usual answer "MEOW!!" Then he scampers off to his food bowl to wait for me. This is a routine of ours. Every morning he starts meowing as soon as the alarm goes off demanding food. You would think, as much as he eats, that he wouldn't be able to walk. But he manages just fine. Waddling to and fro. Funny little fur ball. I laugh inwardly. If only my alarm clock and Le’ander would have waited a few more minutes to decide to get me up, I would have learned the name of the man with the mournful voice in my dream.
Essentia Page 1