Breaking News, the television blared from the living room, this just in, someone’s got a new pet and his name is dad.
DONNA
After dinner, Donna went to her bedroom. She needed to cry. Her daughter was home but something was different about her. She remembered Maya acting the same way each time she disappeared for weeks at a time. What happened to Tahmi? She wouldn’t speak about anything except queens and fantasy beings. None of it made sense. At least she was home.
Sitting on the edge of her bed was something gold. It shimmered in the light. Donna picked it up. Her hands shook. It was Maya’s locket. She opened the heart and burst into tears. Where’d this come from? Where was her sister?
FIGURINES
Tahmi wiped her eyes. She sat on her comforter. Her room was still a mess and she didn’t have a door. Dad with his belly full lay along the side of the bed. “Don’t urinate in my room.”
Dad snorted.
Emptiness fell over her. She needed to go back. She touched her lips. They still tingled. So many things ran through her mind like, why had Jerry acted so strange when he’d seen the old royal pictures? How had he known she’d need him to save her in the castle? Why had she understood the black one’s language? How had Mary become so evil? What happened to the war pig that died? Was Quella okay?
Tahmi lay on her side. Antique books and figurines were scattered about on the bookshelf. “Those are new,” she said. One looked almost like Quella.
Tahmi’s head spun. She couldn’t breathe.
Not only did it look like Quella—it was Quella, and the figure next to her was a war pig. Tahmi took a good look at her figurines—gifts she thought came from Donna.
Donna never gave her any of these.
Tahmi doubled over.
They were inhabitants from Gadaie.
What were they doing in her room?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Leigh Pritchard, author of the C I N Series and The ALMOST Series, was born and raised in South Florida. She’s been writing since grade school and. Learning and meeting new people inspires her. You can learn more about the talented folks she meets through her online and physical studio A HOME FOR THE CREATIVE.
Note to Reader:
Gadaie is the world I grew up in. I was like Mary, changing the world as I aged! I hope you enjoyed my friends—the ones who helped me get through all the troubling moments of adolescence.
Please enjoy an excerpt from book two, The Invisibles.
Always,
Christina Leigh Pritchard
“Dreams are what keep us clouded”
Subscribe to my website: www.christinaleighpritchard.com
Or the Gadaie Series blog: http://gadaie.com/
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THE FALL OF GADAIE SERIES
GADAIE.COM
Book Two
The Invisibles
Quote
“At least when Mary tried to kill us she knew what she was doing”
The Future
In a land not like our own, Jerry, a teenage boy whose life has been filled with fantastical stories and play dates with gentle, loving beings called fun loonies, must learn a hard lesson. The female species is venomous.
FUNHOUSE ZONE
Jerry & Jon Landers
Jerry rubbed his green eyes. Hair matted to his forehead. He brushed the brown strands away. It was his sixteenth birthday—or at least that’s what his uncle Jon Landers claimed. He honestly couldn’t remember anything before he was five. His uncle lay on the bookcase next to him. His breath was foul and he snored horribly. Maybe it was his clothes that stunk. Did the old man own anything else besides that sailor’s suit? He’d never seen his uncle on a ship or even a boat for that matter.
The ground shook. What was that?
They were underground, below the rollercoasters of Funhouse Zone, in a mushroom decoy—their home. Normally he could hear and feel nothing this deep under the earth.
Bottles filled with pink tinted water hung from the roof. They quaked, spilling onto the floor. The roof to his underground home dropped mushroom bits on his head. That couldn’t be good.
“Uncle Jon,” Jerry held the old man’s nose with his fingers. “Wake up. Something is outside.”
Jon Landers snorted, swatting the boy away. “What is the meaning of this?” He grabbed his sailor’s hat. He hated anyone to see his balding head. “Why is the house falling apart?”
“Something big is up there.”
They looked down from on top of their bookshelf beds. Tin books tumbled from their shelves.
“Yes, I believe you’re right.” Jon motioned for his floating chair. It quivered in the corner. “How am I supposed to get down without you?”
“Here, use my bench.” Jerry held the floating bench by its leg. It struggled nearly forcing him to the floor. “Why is the furniture afraid?”
“I’ll never know if I can’t climb down.”
Slowly the bench settled before him. “You don’t have to go outside—only me.”
“Uncle Jon! I’m not letting you go out there alone.” Jerry climbed down the shelf, feeling the boards bend underneath him. There was another ten rows of shelves for him to climb. Would they break? As a child he could easily take them as if they were a ladder but now—
The floating bench set the old man on the floor. Jerry still clung to the book case. “Go fetch the boy, please.”
The bench obeyed, bumping itself against Jerry’s backside. “Thanks.” He grumbled, clutching the sides tightly. “What do you think is out there uncle?”
“Remember what I told you about cause and effect?”
“You mean about Tahmi?”
“Yes, about Tahmi.”
“What about her?”
They ducked. Debris fell. Jon Landers coughed. “Did you hear that?”
Jerry scrambled for the exit. “Yeah, uncle, I heard it alright.”
“Be careful! We don’t know what’s out there.”
Jerry frowned. “I do.”
“What?”
“It’s the effects, right?”
Jon Landers froze. His nephew was smarter than he thought. “Yes, son, I’m sorry. Our worst fears are about to come true.”
“I can’t believe I kissed that monster.” Jerry spat struggling to remove the image of Tahmi’s blue eyes and full lips from his memory. He climbed out and then dragged his uncle up.
“Run!” Someone shoved past them.
“From what?” Jerry asked.
His heart pounded.
Saliva dripped down his neck and dark shadows loomed above him. “Uncle,” he trembled. Hot breath warmed his ear. “What’s behind me?”
Jon Landers couldn’t move. Never in his life had he seen such a creature. Its eyes were blood red and white fangs threatened to engulf his nephew. “The effects of having Tahmi come to our world stand behind you.”
“Am I gonna die?” Jerry’s eyes watered. His hands trembled.
“No.”
Jon Lander’s face told another story.
“You’ve never been a very good liar.” Jerry swallowed. He turned slowly. A thunderous growl deafened him. He dropped to his knees.
The ground shook. Above them an old wooden rollercoaster creaked. “It’s gonna fall.” Jerry whispered. “Hide, uncle, quickly.”
Jon turned sideways and grabbed the exit hatch. He’d be safer underground in his home. Red eyes inched closer to his nephew. Would they kill him?
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Who said that?” Jon glanced behind him. “Show yourself.”
“Only a human would turn his back on a loved one.” The voice punched the old man in the back. He rolled on his side.
“What are you?”
The snarling creatures disappeared into the shadows. Were they the voice? “Jerry! Where are you m
y boy?”
“I’m still alive.” He wiped sweat from his brow. “But, not for long.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Look out!” Jerry slid along the ground. He grabbed his uncle around the waist. “We need to run.”
“I’m old! And my ribs feel like they are broken.”
The rollercoaster squeaked. The timbers split in half. “Go now! Uncle!”
A metal cart dropped smashing against their mushroom home. “I missed!” The invisible voice echoed from above.
The old man forced his ancient knees to bend. He had to tell the Queen. “Jerry,” his voice shook. “Leave me. Inform our Queen. Maybe the princess can help us.”
“Tahmi better not come back! I’ll kill her myself if she does!” Jerry shouted. Six red eyes surrounded them. “You hear me? If you think I’m gonna lie down and take your crap you’re wrong. I’ve lost a lot for a worthless princess.”
“Get Princess Teri,” Jon ordered. “She’s our only hope now.”
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CHARACTER INDEX
In Alphabetical Order
Aaron
Full Name: King Aaron of Merworld
Species: King Merloonie
Location: Merworld; Coral Castle
Description: King Aaron’s tail is white and speckled with purple. He wears a cloak of seaweed with a coral crown in his purple hair. His eyes are red and he never smiles now that his wife has died.
Habitat: King Aaron lives in the coral castle with is son Aiden. The castle is guarded by flaps, Rardians, Clamps and Wraunaloons. He eats candy flavored seaweed and is very bored inside his castle prison. He misses his wife who he says is ‘dead’.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End (mentioned) 2. The Invisibles 8. Teri’s Request
Important to the story because: Partially a spoiler to know; he is King of Merworld
Related to: Aiden (son)
___
Alina
Full Name: Alina the first Star
Species: Star
Location: Luster Low
Description: Physical features: Alina has blonde hair and green glowing eyes. Her body covering (or “clothes”) has gems and miniature flowers peeking through moss. Her exterior wings are bat-like and her interior wings are pink and green; butterfly-like. Alina also has talons that hook into the walls on the tips of her wings.
Excerpt from Book One Lark’s End:
“Her face was nearly human with large glowing green eyes and long wavy blonde strands hung from her head and around a petite body. Her ivory arms and legs stuck to her winged back. She wore a dress made of moss and rubies stringed her neck and miniature flowers wrapped around her bosom.”
Habitat: Alina and her children live underground in caves named Luster Low. Food is farmed by the young stars who are unable to light the world yet. The food then floats to the top of the cave where it can be reached by a floating staircase and anti-gravity. These caves run throughout the Muddy Palace Realm. The ground around the waterfall and pool of water is spongie and filled with miniature flowers that the adult stars flutter onto and sleep in.
In the following books: In all 9 books (at least mentioned)
Important to the story because: She is the first star ever created and an important person to Tahmi.Stars light the world through the Air Caves; invisible caves that run throughout all of Gadaie.
Related to: Eliora, Dawn and Blake; her children
Alex
Full Name: Alex
Species: human mutation
Location: The Land of the Monsters; perfume factory
Description: Alex is a ten-year-old boy with dark hair and glowing green eyes. His eyes are this color because of the experiments Father performs on him.
Habitat: Alex lives in a cage next to Mary inside an old perfume factory that is really Father’s science lab. He’s treat the same as a lab rat and eventually turns on father.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End 3. Melissa’s Revenge 9. There’s Always a Beginning
Important to the story because: Spoiler if known
Related to: Mary & Lily (siblings by adoption); Father (adopted parent)
Amberlyn
Full Name: Amberlyn
Species: Aqualoon; octaloon
Location: Aqualakes; lakes
Description: Amberlyn has long brown hair and eyes with seaweed clothing. Her waist has six tentacles that resemble a skirt and her arms are tenticles as well. She has two feet which are webbed and have a good heart compared to most aqualoons who are angry.
Habitat: Initially born and raised in the flooded flowers since her habitat was destroyed. But, when the aqualakes come back she grows larger and eats the candy flavored seaweed along with her mom.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End 2. The Invisibles 6. Return of the King 9. There’s Always a Beginning (mentioned)
Related to: Shasa (mom)
Anala
Full Name: Anala the loonette
Species: “Colored” ones; loonette
Location: Candy Loo Land; Gigantic Flowers
Description: Anala has reddish orange eyes and glows like a firefly with six fuzzy legs stood still and a thorax filled with colorful swirls of purples, blues and pinks.
Habitat: Anala lives in the gigantic flowers of Candy Loo Land with other ‘colored’ ones. They eat grapes that wrap around the stems of the flowers and hide below in the thick greenery below the flowers.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End
Important to the story because: She is a translator in Book One Lark’s End.
Related to: no one relevent
Andy
Full Name: Angelo “Andy” Vitali
Species: Human
Location: Earth
Description: Andy has light brown hair, freckles and brown eyes. He lives next door to Tahmi on Earth and is her best friend and a very loyal and passionate person.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End 2. The Invisibles 3. Melissa’s Revenge 4. Transition 5. The War of the Queens 6. The Return of the King 8. Teri’s Request and 9. There’s Always a Beginning (mentioned).
Important to the story because: He is Tahmi’s best friend and always speaks his mind.
Related to: Peg and David (parents)
Ben
Full Name: Ben the Sparkler
Species: Sparkler
Location: Sparkler Caves
Description: Ben is similar to a gigantic butterfly only his wings explode letting loose sparklers or fireworks into the sky. He’s the oldest Sparkler and annoyed by the pain in his wings due to the explosions.
Habitat: Ben lives in the Sparkler’s Caves. These can only be reached through the Air Caves or by someone who can fly to the tops of the mountains where the caves are located.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End
Important to the story because: Spoiler if known
Related to: no one of relevence
Blake
Full Name: Blake the star
Species: Star
Location: Lusterlow
Description: Blake is small and very young with brown hair, green interior wings with orange spots. He is playful and excited about meeting Lark.
Habitat: Blake, his mom and sisters live underground in caves named Luster Low. Food is farmed by the young stars who are unable to light the world yet. The food then floats to the top of the cave where it can be reached by a floating staircase and anti-gravity. These caves run throughout the Muddy Palace Realm. The ground around the waterfall and pool of water is spongie and filled with miniature flowers that the adult stars flutter onto and sleep in.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End 9. There’s Always a Beginning
Important to the story because: He is Alina’s son.
Related to: Alina (mom); Eliora and Daw
n (sisters)
Carnevole
Full Name: Carnevole the Steel
Species: Aqualoon; a steel
Location: Aqualakes and rivers
Description: Steels have human torsos with eel-like tails with flowing fins for arms and along the tail. They all have starfish on their heads (for specific purpose) and hate socializing in general. Carnevole is red and fierce just as his coloring suggests.
Habitat: Initially trapped in the flooded flowers hiding with his wife Idris in an old mushroom dwelling (since her habitat was destroyed) But, when the aqualakes come back their eggs grow larger and are able to hatch. He eats the candy flavored seaweed and hates to socialize; even with his wife.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End 2. The Invisibles
Important to the story because: Spoiler if known
Related to: Idris (wife)
__________________________________________________
Charles
Full Name: Charles Russo
Species: Human
Location: Earth
Description: Charles has dark hair and eyes and dresses sharply as a banker would. He loves statistics and his family. Sometimes he doesn’t “get it” but means well in all that he does.
In the following books: 1. Lark’s End 2. The Invisibles 3. Melissa’s Revenge 4. Transition 5. The War of the Queens 6. The Return of the King 7. Maya Angelou Baker 8. Teri’s Request and 9. There’s Always a Beginning (mentioned)
Important to the story because: He is Tahmi’s adopted father.
Related to: Donna (wife), Maya (sister-in-law), Tahmi (adopted daughter)
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Chrysmys
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