Prologue

Without any windows or doors, she remained trapped within a cold and damp room, chained to a deep glass bowl filled with water. The Great Mother’s iron and gold tower stood from the far reaches of the City of Silver Stone shrouded in an eternal fog. Like the citizens, she too was cursed. She was a soulless entity whose existence wasn't known to the citizens outside of the tower.

“Animal by day, man at night �" cursed, we are to have no face; a thousand years, I have searched. Find me the one who will be the next king, so that he may break our curse,” the Great Mother’s voice spoke into the darkness. Her words transformed into a green mist which hung in the air above the bowl, until finally it dropped into the water.

Dark light flashed, and her reflection rippled and morphed, transforming into Earth. The Great Mother raised her hand; with her mind, she moved the water. Earth morphed into woods and then into a cottage, entering a field where three children played. A little girl sat alone while two boys wrestled on the ground. The water stilled as she dragged her fingers across the image of the older boy’s face.

“Jason McKenedrick, you will be our next king.”

***

Callimae, Mississippi

The trees are long and skinny, but it was as if God took regular pines and stretched them. The sun found small open patches to escape stagnant rain clouds that jam-packed the sky. The Jacobsons’ blue and white cottage resided within a circle of the long, skinny trees. The yard was vast and filled with flowers and plants, and near the back porch was a large oak with elongated spider-like branches.

Lily Jacobson kicked her legs back and forth on the lawn chair. She watched her brother play with his best friend. She grabbed a handful of yellow flowers at her feet. She set them on her dress and brushed off the grass and dirt. When she was satisfied, she picked up one of the flowers and smelled it. She giggled when it tickled her nose.

Lily didn't like sitting alone. Grandma said she had to, but she was bored. After picking the petals clean from the flower, she threw the stem down. Now she wanted to play. Grandpa wouldn't mind if she ran off and got dirty. Lily tossed the rest of the flowers aside and looked down at her brand new yellow sundress. She hadn't even moved very much and she already had mud steaks across the hem. Well, since she was already dirty, she couldn't possibly get any dirtier.

She slid off her chair and looked toward the woods. The trees seemed to almost touch the sky. She was jealous of those trees. She wished she could climb to the very top and enter heaven, and then maybe she could meet her mama there. At the same time, she loved the trees; they protected her. If she ever got into trouble with her grandma, she would hide up in the branches. Lily shook her dress. A clump of dirt fell between her sandaled feet. She rubbed her eye, smudging dirt along her eyebrow and nose. She wanted to play hide-and-seek, but the only problem was she had to convince her brother.

Myles refused anything that he did not want to do. She swore he didn't like her. Myles was always grouchy. He liked to hog his friend all to himself, but she liked his friend too. She’d get Myles to play with her. She had to hurry though. If Grandma found her out of her seat, she’d drag Lily inside the house without a word. Lily rubbed her eye again. She gave a big sigh before she skipped toward her brother and his friend who wrestled on the ground. She squatted, asked if they’d play with her, and then quickly avoided a foot to her face.

 

Jaxson McKenedrick laughed and dodged his friend’s elbow. He watched Myles’s little sister skip toward them. He cleared his throat and tried to tell his friend, but Myles wasn't in a listening mood. Lily finally squatted and said, “Do you want to play hide-and-seek?”

Oblivious to Lily, Myles continued to wrestle with Jaxson. Myles’s leg kicked out and nearly caught his sister in the face. Jaxson shoved Myles off him and sat up.

Clutching her dress with dirty fingers, Lily shouted, “Will you play hide-and-seek with me?”

Myles hollered back, “You don’t need to scream Lily. We can hear you.” He sat up from the ground and crossed his legs.

“Well maybe not after that,” Jaxson commented. He watched Lily’s face turn red.

“You weren't listening to me �" I didn't make you go deaf, did I?”

“I’m not deaf,” Jaxson replied in a dry voice as he lay back down in the grass, putting his hands behind his head.

“What do you want, Lily?” Myles asked, watching her.

“I just said it twice. Weren't you paying attention?”

“No. Why would I listen to you?”

“Because I’m your sister Myles. Stop being so mean,” she nearly shouted again. She looked toward the house and then back to Myles again.

Myles stuck his tongue out.

“Fine. If you won’t play with me, I’ll ask Jaxson.”

“Oh no, you don’t Lily. Jaxson doesn't want to play with no twelve-year-old. We’re fourteen. Who wants to play with a girl?”

Lily took a step forward with fists at her side. “What’d you say, Myles?”

“You heard me.”

“I dare you to say it again!”

Jaxson sighed and sat up; grabbing his friend’s forearm, he pulled Myles toward him. Jaxson whispered so only Myles could hear. “Don’t be so mean to her. Let’s just play with her for a little while, okay?”

Myles groaned, “Do we have to?” Jaxson nodded. Myles fell onto his back with a sigh. “Fine. But only for ten minutes. Then she’ll have to go.”

Myles stood up from the ground, shoving Jaxson away from him. “Lily, if you want to play…what did you say you wanted to play again?”

“Hide and seek.”

“Whatever. We’ll play. But you’ll have to be it.”

Lily nodded.

“Since Jaxson is still on the floor �"”

“Only because you pushed me there,” Jaxson interrupted.

“Shut up. I’m talking,” Myles growled and then looked back at Lily. “I’ll go hide first.” He started to walk toward the woods when he stopped and said, “You better start counting. And you have ten minutes to find us.” Myles ran off into the cover of the trees.

Jaxson sat up and looked at Lily. “Don’t cry.”

“I wasn't going to cry,” Lily said.

“Myles is…well, you know how he is. Don’t take what he says personally. Okay?”

She bobbed her head and left to walk over to the big oak. Jaxson got to his feet and followed her. Lily folded her arms on the bark and started to count. Jaxson sat and leaned against the tree. He waited till she got to seven when he tapped her on the shoulder.

“You don’t have to be it. I’ll do it. So go and hide.”

Lily pushed away from the tree and glared at him. “I can do it. I’m not a baby.”

“I know you’re not a baby. But I've always wanted to be it. You always end up being the seeker. So let me do it this once, okay?”

He watched Lily twirl her black curly hair. He always liked her eyes. She had nice green ones. His eyes were green too, but not like hers. Her eyes were more like the grass, while his reminded him more of a murky greenish-brown swamp. To top it off, while she had jet black hair, his hair was more like the inside of a pomegranate. He grinned and shook his head.

Lily finally sat down and asked, “What’s funny?”

“My hair.”

“But I like your hair. It’s really, really red.” She reached over and touched it. “It’s softer than mine. And I’m a girl.”

“I guess I can always tell you my secret, but then Myles might be jealous that your hair will be softer than his.”

She laughed and tucked her dress under her legs.

“So you’ll let me be the seeker?” He asked again.

She nodded and stood up, brushing off her dress.

Hiding a smile, he gawked at her. Lily was wearing a yellow sun dress. She kept trying to brush off grass streaks and dried mud patches, but she ended up making it worse. She gave him a smile and said, “Fine. If you’re going to be it, you’ll have to count to a hundred. And you can’t do it fast either. You have to go like this ‘One Mississippi, two Mississippi’. Got it?”

“Oh, I got it all right. Lily, can I tell you something?”

She gazed at him from the corner of her eyes. “You’re not going to say anything mean like Myles, are you?”

“No. Lily, I…you have dirt all over your face.”

He couldn't say it. He wanted to tell her that he liked her, like how a boy likes a girl.

“I do?” Lily touched her face, smearing even more dirt on her cheeks. “Grandma’s going to be mad at me again.” She looked back at the house. “I’ll have to wash my face later before she sees.”

It’s not like he wanted her to be his girlfriend or anything. No. He just wanted to see if she liked him back. He hated this one-sided liking. He had to know, to put him out of his misery. If she did like him, then he would be the happiest fourteen year-old ever, but if she didn't, he would keep his feelings bottled up for the next couple of years until she started to have the same feelings.

He was going to say it. The words were there. They filled his mouth, but he swallowed them back up and kept them lodged in his throat. He failed. She wouldn't know, but maybe that was a good thing. He didn't want to ruin their friendship. He decided to keep his feelings to himself and wait, but he still wanted to touch her. Even if he only touched her hand, he needed to satisfy the hunger for acceptance.

Jaxson reached out, but before he could touch her Lily ran off. He sighed and leaned back against the tree. He gazed up at the sky and thought it might rain soon. He faced the bushes, crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He thought he had heard a rustling sound. He waited until he didn't hear it again.

He had wasted enough time here. He better start counting.

 

Lily wandered further into the woods. She walked unknowingly through distorted air and light. The temperature immediately started to drop once she passed through. She shivered and clutched her arms to her body. She wanted to stop moving and sit down. Mississippi never got this cold in July. She could see her breath as she breathed. They were by the coast. The sea breeze brought in storm clouds, and they’d have the occasional hurricane, but it was always warm. Ice coated strands of her hair. Her eyelashes were thick with frost. Where was she?

She was lost. The trees were no longer thin; they were thick and enormous, and instead of touching the sky, she swore they reached space since she didn't see any branches or leaves. She kept walking until her legs finally gave out. It was foggy now. She was so sleepy and cold. She collapsed to the ground, lied her head down on her hands, and closed her eyes.

She woke when she heard whispering. It was dark, but there were still hints of lights in the trees. She looked around and scooted closer to a nearby tree. She scrunched in a ball and put her hands over her head. Animal faces poked their heads out from behind tree trunks. They moved closer. One of them was so close that she saw that the creature had a human body with the face of an owl. She opened her mouth to scream but no sound left her. She gaped in horror at the humanoid-like creatures. She closed her eyes and prayed with all her might. She rocked her body back and forth. Praying louder and louder, she finally yelled, “I rebuke you in Jesus’s name. I am protected by his precious blood. You must leave.” Lily repeated this over two more times.

One of the creatures whispered, “She brought God into the forest.”

After the third prayer she finally lifted her head; they were gone.

 

Jaxson finished counting. He pushed away from the tree and stretched. He yawned. After the game, he might go lie down for a bit. Another rustling noise came from the woods.

“Jaxson McKenedrick will be our next king,” voices whispered.

Jaxson moved away from the oak and took a step toward the trees. Was he hearing things? The branches waved for him to leave as the wind danced through them. He stopped a couple of feet away from the woods’ entrance.

“Is someone there? Myles, is that you?” He heard a cracking noise behind him. His body tensed. “This isn't funny man. I’m going to seriously knock you out.” Jaxson turned. He took a step back. A large buck watched him. The animal was close; he could see his reflection in its black eyes. There was another crunching noise. Two more bucks appeared at his sides. He spun around to find a fourth behind him. He was surrounded.

They chanted, “Jaxson McKenedrick, you are our next king.”

The bucks pinned him within their antlers. Jaxson grabbed one of the bucks’ horns and tried to push it away. A buck grabbed him by the back of his shirt and yanked him out of the circle. Jaxon tried pulling away and taking off his shirt, but the animal was too powerful. His feet dragged in front of him. Dirt shot up into his face. The woods’ shadows overwhelmed him. He didn't want to go in there. He opened his mouth to yell. He clawed at the animal as he called for help. He dug his feet into the ground as he grabbed a stick and stabbed the creature.

He was crying; his father said a man never cried. He wasn't a man; he was only a boy. The three other bucks had already vanished into the woods. The buck, dragging him, was nearly within the safety of the trees. Grandma and Grandpa Jacobson threw open the door to the cottage. They shouted at him, but they were so far away. They wouldn't save him. No one could.

 

Lily ran. Her tears blinded her, but even if she could see, the darkness kept her sight. The image of the humanoid-creatures repeated in her mind. She wanted to forget them. She prayed that those creatures didn't follow her. She needed to get home. Her grandma would probably ground her for a month, but at this point Lily didn't mind being stuck in the house.

Her stomach hurt from running too fast. Deciding that she was far enough, she sat down.

She rubbed her stinging eyes and then leaned her head back against the cold bark. She closed her eyes to sleep and then reopened them when she heard a noise. From between two trees, a light moved toward her. Afraid the animal-people had found her, she moved to get up but her legs didn't listen to her. Numb, Lily scooted her body away from the tree, only to fall onto her side. The light was closer. She needed to get up. Move, she told her body. Yet her legs refused the command.

Her eyes burned from frozen tears. A shadowed figure came into view. A man in purple robes walked up to her collapsed body. A hood hid his face. He held a torch over her.

In a deep voice, he stated, “I had heard that there was a girl in the forest.”

“Who are you?” Lily asked in a raised voice.

“Calm down little one. I won’t hurt you.”

“I saw creatures out there.” Lily tried to point but her arm fell back onto the grass.

“Creatures?”

“People with animal faces. You’re not one of them are you?”

“I am not.”

“Show me your face then.”

The man unwrapped material that covered his face but the hood remained.

“The hood too.”

“You’re a demanding thing, aren't you,” he said in a dry voice after removing the hood.

Lily looked up into blue eyes. He crouched down and held the torch closer to his face. He had long blonde hair that went past his shoulders, pale skin, and a sharp nose. His face was normal.

“You’re not one of them.”

He smiled. “My name is Plutonian.”

“I’m Lily, Lily Jacobson.”

He nodded. “A pleasure. Now Lily, how did you end up here?”

“I don’t know. I was playing hide and seek with my brother and his friend. I just walked and walked. I thought about giving up because it was very hot. And then it was very, very cold. That’s when I ran into those animal-people.”

“I see.”

“Do you know how I can get back to my home?” Lily asked after a couple moments of silence.

“I don’t. But I know someone who does.”

“Really? Who?”

“An old friend of mine. Can you stand?”

“My legs are numb.” Lily tried moving.

“Here let me.” Plutonian moved his hand over her legs. A blue light rushed from his fingers and onto her legs. “Is that better?”

“How did you…? I can feel my legs again.” She stood and brushed off her mud-covered dress. She looked down at the fabric and shook her head.

They walked side by side. Plutonian held the torch in front of him lighting their way. Lily crossed her arms in front of her and shivered. She looked up into the trees and tried to find any sign of branches.

“How large are these trees?”

“They’re a thousand years old. It’s impossible to see them at night.”

“A thousand?”

“We call this place the Thousand Year Forest. It’s as old as my people are.”

“You mean the animal-people?”

“Yes. Animal by day, man at night. Cursed are we to have no face. Only the truth can free us. Lily, I don’t think you came here by accident.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’ll take too long to explain.”

“How about shortening it?”

“I guess I will try.” Plutonian walked saying nothing. She thought he might not say anything until he finally cleared his throat and said, “The king wanted his queen to be happy. They had everything. The people loved him, and he loved the people. But Xavia was sad. She secretly loved another. He was a weak and a poor man. The king found out about this man, so he killed the queen’s lover. The king said, ‘You will love only me’.

“The queen drowned herself. The king lost his mind. He had his wife brought back to life with an old magic. An angry voice spoke out and said, ‘He who tries to take life into his own hands must live in pain and dream of death.’

“Soon the king lost everything. He had been cursed. His kingdom fell to ruin until finally everybody had forgotten the king and his people. Have you ever heard of the city of Silver Stone?”

Lily shook her head.

“That’s because the kingdom was erased from earth.”

“How is that even possible?”

He remained silent.

“Answer me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why can’t you?”

And again, Plutonian stayed silent.

She sighed. “Fine, then don’t tell me.” Lily stumbled over a rock. She quickly righted herself. She asked in a grumbling voice, “Do you know how much longer it will take to reach your friend? My grandma’s probably worried out of her mind.”

“I promise you that when you return, it’ll be the same time you left.”

“But I slept here and then ran forever. I don’t even know what time it is. It has to be at least ten.”

“There’s no notion of time here. Only two people age in this dimension. You and the king.”

“The king of Silver Stone? But then what about the animal-people? What about you?”

“Here touch my hand,” Plutonian said. He stopped and waited for Lily.

Lily uncurled her arms from her body and went to touch him. Her hand went right through his. She jumped back, almost falling. She yelled, “You’re a ghost.”

“A spirit actually.”

“I don’t see the �"”

“Do I frighten you? You weren't afraid me before I asked you to touch my hand.”

Lily stared at him. She licked her lips and crossed her arms again. She looked toward the trees and then back at him. “I’m not…afraid of you.”

“I’m glad. We’re almost there.”

After a couple minutes of walking, they finally arrived to see four bucks facing distorted air.

Plutonian called out, “Rodger Grumwell, I have a favor to ask of you.”

One of the bucks turned toward him, left the group, and walked toward the pair.

“I’m in a bit of hurry,” the buck said.

“Yes, I heard. You’re to bring back the next king. I hear the current king has a day or two before he passes.”

“So what do you need from me?”

“I need you to take Lily here back to her world.”

“You mean the girl who brought �"”

“Rodger,” Plutonian interrupted, “don’t you have to be somewhere?”

“I do. I can drop her off on my way.”

“Lily,” Plutonian said looking at her. “Rodger will take care of you. Just sit on his back and hold onto him so you don’t fall off.”

“Thank you for all your help.”

“Let’s hope that we meet again,” he said with a smile before his body and torch vanished. The darkness returned. The only light was from the entrance between the two worlds.

“Just climb on my back.”

“How is it that you can talk?” Lily asked climbing on the back of the buck.

“You mean being an animal?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I’m actually a human. Hold on tight. We’re about to leave.”

Plutonian reappeared behind Rodger and Lily. He whispered, “Forget.” Green light poured from his fingers. The spell surrounded her.

Lily’s eyes glazed over. Her head collapsed onto her shoulder. Her grip still held as Rodger and the other three bucks entered the swirling air and light.

Lily sat up from the grass and looked up into her brother’s face. He had been shaking her shoulders. Tears were in his eyes.

“Thank god, I found you.”

“Why?” Lily asked in a scratchy voice.

“Jaxson’s gone. Grandma…she wanted me to find…” Myles rubbed his eyes and hiccuped.

Lily sat up and hugged her brother. “What happened, Myles?”

“Grandma said he was dragged away by a buck.” He stood up with Lily. “Why were you sleeping anyway?”

Holding her head, she replied, “I can’t remember.”

“Let’s go back to the house.”

“But I’m covered in dirt again.”

Myles laughed and wiped the tear marks from his cheeks. “You’re always dirty. What else is new?”

“They’ll find Jaxson, Myles.”

“Come on. Grandma’s worried.”

 

The buck tossed Jaxson onto a paved pathway. He was bleeding from hitting numerous rocks and shrubs. He tried to sit up, but the buck standing over him said, “Don’t move.” Horrified, Jaxson remained on the ground. He looked around and saw houses framing a stone paved street. Lamps with a flickering light lit the way up a massive hill where a large castle stood.

“Where did you bring me?” Jaxson waited for an answer. “I know you can speak.”

“You are in Silver Stone.”

“Where is that?”

“Dimension X. Now enough questions. A guard should be here to escort you to the castle.”

“Take me home.”

“I cannot. My duty was to bring you here, and here you will stay. There is the guard now.”

A man dressed in all black walked up.

Jaxson shouted, “Let me go.” He looked up into the guard’s face and yelled, “A bear’s face?”

Jaxson’s head was struck, knocking him out.

Sucking in breath as he woke, Jaxson sat up. In a room full of many different antique chairs looking to be from different time periods, he surveyed the walls and furniture. An elderly man in Grecian-style robes lounged in a tall back chair drinking from a tea cup. He lazily eyed Jaxson from the other side of the room. When he saw that Jaxson awoke he set his cup and saucer down on the table in front of him.

“Where am I? Who are you? Why are you wearing a mask? And why are the bucks talking? And why does the guard have a bear face?” Jaxson asked.

“So many questions for just waking up.” The elderly man shifted in his chair. “Hmm, well I’m wearing a plain half mask, and I’m not possessed by an animal spirit. There that was simple.”

“How is that simple? And you didn't answer all of my questions.”

The man laughed.

“Why did you bring me here?”

“You are the new king.”

“New? What about the old one?”

“I’m dying.”

“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”

He smiled, “I need you to take my throne.”

“Why me? There are millions of other people out there.”

“I didn't choose you. Someone else did. We don’t know who controls these things. There are rumors. And before you ask, we are cursed. Animal by day. Man at night. Cursed are we to have no face. Only the truth can free us.”

“No face?”

The king took off his mask. Only a smooth surface where his eyes, nose had been remained. He slid the mask back in place. His eyes and nose returned. “Only I can remove my mask. If any other citizen tried, their soul would escape, and they would die.”

“Can’t I go? They can live without a king.”

“Sadly, they cannot. The king is bound to this place. The citizens never age, but the king is mortal. Time is nonexistence here.”

“If time is stopped here, how are you dying?”

“I was taken from earth like you. I was once a regular person. I was born in 1912 in San Francisco. I’m eighty-five years old. They brought me here when I was thirty-seven.”

“I’m fourteen.”

“You are one of the unlucky ones. The fifteenth king was nine.”

“Why do these people need me?”

“To break the curse” The king looked at his watch. “I have only a few minutes left before I pass.”

“You know the time of your death?”

The king nodded. “To break the curse you must do these five things: you must discover why the curse was cast, who cast it, and how to break it. You must remember your true name, and you must have someone from the outside world love you. If you can do these five things the curse will be broken and you and the people of Silver Stone will be free. All the previous kings’ souls will rise from the Thousand Year Forest and enter the afterlife.

“Take this watch. To remember. Once it’s on your arm the time will be reset. After I die, one of my servants will take you to your new room, and then you will meet the minister to begin your lessons.”

“Will my face be like yours?”

“Once I die, the curse will take your body. You will inherit my name.”

“That’s why I have to remember my true name?”

“Yes. You will be known from this point on as Cherem. King Cherem. I was told that it means cursed. Now you must say it.”

Jaxson hesitated but then said, “My name is Cherem.”

“Good. You know what you must do. I ask God to guide you. God has not entered Silver Stone for quite a long time.”

“What is your name?”

“My true name is George Isaac.” The king closed his eyes, and as his body turned to dust. The mask faded and reappeared on Jaxson’s face. The king disappeared.

Author's Note

Tell me what you think.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

This is a chapter. Introduction are short and sweet. I did like the chapter. You create interesting storyline and good character. I liked the use of cat and man. Good conversation and nice set-up of the story brought the reader in and held their attention. Thank you for sharing the excellent chapter.
Coyote