Rise of the Shadows
Book 1 in the Fey Chronicles
Synopsis
In the beginning of time, the worlds of light and darkness were separated by a great void and did not concern themselves with the happenings of the other world. During this time, the Children of the Darkness were greedy and malicious. They soon began to destroy themselves from within. The Children of Light became complacent, ignored their pursuit of knowledge and soon forgot the gods thinking themselves gods instead. The Gods saw this and were displeased. In their disgust for how the worlds had evolved, they realized that light and darkness are an intricate balance both needing the other to survive and grow. They created a middle world; Earth. The Children of Darkness and the Children of Light have since fought for control of this middle realm. There have been those throughout time who have tried to hold the balance in sway in order to protect creation itself.
Now, two modern day wizards find themselves in an extraordinary adventure that will change their lives forever. When Ian and Helen Kelly are befriended by two small Faeries and a cat named Theo, their lives take a turn which neither of them expected. As they transcend worlds into the Fey Realm and learn of otherworld beings, such as their friend Sabot a great dragon, they learn they are to become great Masters and protectors of the Earth Realm to fight against the growing darkness. Joined by the Brindi-Shamir, the elite Fey warriors, they embark on a journey which is both spiritual and magickal that will both reveal their destinies and put them in grave peril. They find strength they did not know they possessed and learn the magick of the Fey folk and of the Elves which starts them on a path of no return.
In this first book of three, there is a prophecy of two half-humans who could physically transcend between the Earth and the Fey Realms. Master Scorra, of the Fey Council, believes he has found them in Ian and Helen. Three Fey, Solas, Kerrik and Marco work with Master Scorra and the Lady Marrakhet, his wife, to teach Helen and Ian about magick and warrior prowess. Through their teaching Ian and Helen find themselves growing strong in great magick. While Ian and Helen learn to fight for and defend the Fey Realm, the attacks from the shadows intensifies on the Earth Realm.
CHAPTER 1
Ian squinted at the bright morning sunlight which invaded the bedroom through the window blinds. Earlier, Theo had been perched on the window sill bird watching and the blinds were now askew just at the perfect spot through which the sun could drag Ian from his dreams by turning all the colors to a dull, blurry red through his eyelids. Theo now stretched beside him and began to purr softly. He flexed his claws twice savoring the feeling of warmth, which began flowing into his muscles. Theo strategically flicked his tail at Ian’s nose and washed his face in anticipation of Ian rising and dishing out his daily kibbles.
In a former life, he had been a mighty hunter, a lynx who stalked the beasts of the wild. At times, his dreams took him there again. Crouching behind a thicket as an unwary rabbit nervously dined on the sweet clover that grew on the hillside. One swift pounce and a heart pounding chase would begin. It was unfair to the rabbit. Theo could read its thoughts and knew which way it would next dart; left then left again, trying to find cover small enough for the lynx not to fit through. However, Theo had no problems catching rabbits and ground squirrel, and, on the occasion when his tastes were leaning toward sweeter meat, a fawn. His favorite, however, was quail. The feathers were a nuisance, but the wild fowl was a delightful meal.
Although Theo had been proud of his hunting prowess, this was a far easier life. Theo glanced through the open blind slats at the birds sitting on the window sill. My, they looked tasty. Doves had always been another of his favorites. He licked his lips, an expression Ian took for his impatience for his kibbles. Ian pulled the blanket over his head and groaned, not yet wanting to rise. Theo stood and climbed atop Ian’s chest. Ian did not respond. Theo began kneading and mewing. Ian looked from beneath the covers with one squinted eye. “You’re not going to let me sleep are you?”
Theo responded with a sharp trill. “Ok, ok, I am getting up.”Ian stumbled to the bathroom with his eyes half shut to start his morning routine. Somehow he had lost one of his socks during the night. He bumped heavily into the door frame as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Theo circled Ian’s leg purring, which sounded almost like laughter in Ian’s sleep deprived state. He scowled down at the feline. “Will you stop…?” Ian tripped catching himself on the marble vanity as the cat made his last move in front of Ian’s right leg. “One day, Theo, you are going to be the death of me.” Inwardly Theo chuckled.
Ian Kelly looked into the large mirror at the reflection of a man who appeared as if he had not slept for some time. At twenty-seven, he felt much older than he should feel. His light brown hair showed no sign of gray, but his eyes held a light, a spark of wisdom one sees only in the very old. His light blue eyes held tiny flecks of green that changed color depending on his mood. Today, though, those eyes only looked bloodshot and tired. His unshaven face and the dark circles under his eyes told the tale.
However, his sleeping patterns were quite the contrary. He had been sleeping more, not less, usually ten to twelve hours each night. Even so, it was not sleep that refreshed his mind and body. And his dreams had been quite disturbing of late. Dark shapes from his past now clouded his fitful sleep. In the mist of the morning light, they faded like wisps of smoke from an extinguished candle.
He rubbed his bristly beard and reached for his toothbrush. That is when he noticed the bruise on his forearm. It was roughly the shape of an oval and about the size of his fist, with blotchy red and blue hues. It caused no pain, only slight discomfort when he touched it. Where had he gotten it? His stumble into the door frame was on the opposite side of his body, and he could not recall hitting his arm either this morning or last night. The bruise looked too new to be any older than that. He guessed that he must have hit it during his sleep.Stretching his back and shoulders, Ian winced at the soreness. “I have to replace the mattress apparently. I am not old enough to be this sore in the morning.” His muscles ached as if he had exercised for hours.
Theo snickered behind his back as he watched Ian grimace from pain and wonder at his physical condition. He had sat on the foot of the bed and watched Ian in his dreams the night before, growling and snarling, fighting something unseen. Memories from his past, childhood memories of shadows that haunted him still today. In his sleep, when he was most vulnerable, they came into the mists of his dreams to torment him once again.
If Ian only knew what was to come, the mere dreams of the shadows from his memories would be nothing but a fairy tale of which he could close the book at any time the story became too frightening. What was to come would test him, test his faith, his power and above all else his love for Helen.
In the beginning of time, the worlds of light and darkness were separated by a great void and did not concern themselves with the happenings of the other world. During this time, the Children of the Darkness were greedy and malicious. They soon began to destroy themselves from within. The Children of Light became complacent, ignored their pursuit of knowledge and soon forgot the gods thinking themselves gods instead. The Gods saw this and were displeased. In their disgust for how the worlds had evolved, they realized that light and darkness are an intricate balance both needing the other to survive and grow. They created a middle world; Earth. The Children of Darkness and the Children of Light have since fought for control of this middle realm. There have been those throughout time who have tried to hold the balance in sway in order to protect creation itself.
Now, two modern day wizards find themselves in an extraordinary adventure that will change their lives forever. When Ian and Helen Kelly are befriended by two small Faeries and a cat named Theo, their lives take a turn which neither of them expected. As they transcend worlds into the Fey Realm and learn of otherworld beings, such as their friend Sabot a great dragon, they learn they are to become great Masters and protectors of the Earth Realm to fight against the growing darkness. Joined by the Brindi-Shamir, the elite Fey warriors, they embark on a journey which is both spiritual and magickal that will both reveal their destinies and put them in grave peril. They find strength they did not know they possessed and learn the magick of the Fey folk and of the Elves which starts them on a path of no return.
In this first book of three, there is a prophecy of two half-humans who could physically transcend between the Earth and the Fey Realms. Master Scorra, of the Fey Council, believes he has found them in Ian and Helen. Three Fey, Solas, Kerrik and Marco work with Master Scorra and the Lady Marrakhet, his wife, to teach Helen and Ian about magick and warrior prowess. Through their teaching Ian and Helen find themselves growing strong in great magick. While Ian and Helen learn to fight for and defend the Fey Realm, the attacks from the shadows intensifies on the Earth Realm.
CHAPTER 1
Ian squinted at the bright morning sunlight which invaded the bedroom through the window blinds. Earlier, Theo had been perched on the window sill bird watching and the blinds were now askew just at the perfect spot through which the sun could drag Ian from his dreams by turning all the colors to a dull, blurry red through his eyelids. Theo now stretched beside him and began to purr softly. He flexed his claws twice savoring the feeling of warmth, which began flowing into his muscles. Theo strategically flicked his tail at Ian’s nose and washed his face in anticipation of Ian rising and dishing out his daily kibbles.
In a former life, he had been a mighty hunter, a lynx who stalked the beasts of the wild. At times, his dreams took him there again. Crouching behind a thicket as an unwary rabbit nervously dined on the sweet clover that grew on the hillside. One swift pounce and a heart pounding chase would begin. It was unfair to the rabbit. Theo could read its thoughts and knew which way it would next dart; left then left again, trying to find cover small enough for the lynx not to fit through. However, Theo had no problems catching rabbits and ground squirrel, and, on the occasion when his tastes were leaning toward sweeter meat, a fawn. His favorite, however, was quail. The feathers were a nuisance, but the wild fowl was a delightful meal.
Although Theo had been proud of his hunting prowess, this was a far easier life. Theo glanced through the open blind slats at the birds sitting on the window sill. My, they looked tasty. Doves had always been another of his favorites. He licked his lips, an expression Ian took for his impatience for his kibbles. Ian pulled the blanket over his head and groaned, not yet wanting to rise. Theo stood and climbed atop Ian’s chest. Ian did not respond. Theo began kneading and mewing. Ian looked from beneath the covers with one squinted eye. “You’re not going to let me sleep are you?”
Theo responded with a sharp trill. “Ok, ok, I am getting up.”Ian stumbled to the bathroom with his eyes half shut to start his morning routine. Somehow he had lost one of his socks during the night. He bumped heavily into the door frame as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Theo circled Ian’s leg purring, which sounded almost like laughter in Ian’s sleep deprived state. He scowled down at the feline. “Will you stop…?” Ian tripped catching himself on the marble vanity as the cat made his last move in front of Ian’s right leg. “One day, Theo, you are going to be the death of me.” Inwardly Theo chuckled.
Ian Kelly looked into the large mirror at the reflection of a man who appeared as if he had not slept for some time. At twenty-seven, he felt much older than he should feel. His light brown hair showed no sign of gray, but his eyes held a light, a spark of wisdom one sees only in the very old. His light blue eyes held tiny flecks of green that changed color depending on his mood. Today, though, those eyes only looked bloodshot and tired. His unshaven face and the dark circles under his eyes told the tale.
However, his sleeping patterns were quite the contrary. He had been sleeping more, not less, usually ten to twelve hours each night. Even so, it was not sleep that refreshed his mind and body. And his dreams had been quite disturbing of late. Dark shapes from his past now clouded his fitful sleep. In the mist of the morning light, they faded like wisps of smoke from an extinguished candle.
He rubbed his bristly beard and reached for his toothbrush. That is when he noticed the bruise on his forearm. It was roughly the shape of an oval and about the size of his fist, with blotchy red and blue hues. It caused no pain, only slight discomfort when he touched it. Where had he gotten it? His stumble into the door frame was on the opposite side of his body, and he could not recall hitting his arm either this morning or last night. The bruise looked too new to be any older than that. He guessed that he must have hit it during his sleep.Stretching his back and shoulders, Ian winced at the soreness. “I have to replace the mattress apparently. I am not old enough to be this sore in the morning.” His muscles ached as if he had exercised for hours.
Theo snickered behind his back as he watched Ian grimace from pain and wonder at his physical condition. He had sat on the foot of the bed and watched Ian in his dreams the night before, growling and snarling, fighting something unseen. Memories from his past, childhood memories of shadows that haunted him still today. In his sleep, when he was most vulnerable, they came into the mists of his dreams to torment him once again.
If Ian only knew what was to come, the mere dreams of the shadows from his memories would be nothing but a fairy tale of which he could close the book at any time the story became too frightening. What was to come would test him, test his faith, his power and above all else his love for Helen.