"The Broken Trinity: Secrets of the Orb" by Kaleigh Anne Kailani

The Broken Trinity

Secrets of the Orb

Kaleigh Anne Kailani

The Broken Trinity: Secrets of the Orb

Copyright © 2013 Kaleigh Anne Kailani

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced (except for inclusion in reviews), disseminated or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or in any information storage and retrieval system, or the Internet/World Wide Web without written permission from the author or publisher.

For more information contact:

Happilythree@yahoo.com

Book design by: www.arborbooks.com

The Broken Trinity: Secrets of the Orb

Kaleigh Anne Kailani

1. Title 2. Author 3. Fiction

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012920210

ISBN 13: 978-0-615-72069-2

Dedicated to Mom, Aunt Heather, Grandma Judy and my little sister Summer who saw the story through until the end.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE When the Raven Watches

CHAPTER TWO Hidden in The Forest

CHAPTER THREE Secrets of the Basement

CHAPTER FOUR The Invisible Foe

CHAPTER FIVE Mernan

CHAPTER SIX Attack of the Seazals

CHAPTER SEVEN The Book of the Trinity

CHAPTER EIGHT Escape into the Night

CHAPTER NINE Vision in the Moon

CHAPTER TEN The Clock Master

CHAPTER ELEVEN The Gate Keeper

CHAPTER TWELVE Memories of Namniko

CHAPTER THIRTEEN Monsters in the Castle

CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Elder Tree

CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Mysterious Orb

CHAPTER SIXTEEN Between Life and Death

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Tale of a Dead City

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Doll

CHAPTER NINETEEN Evrit

CHAPTER TWENTY Imposters

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE The Cave of Light

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO The Letter

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Journey Back to Earth

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Sornox

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Flames of Fury

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Jasleen

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN Reunited

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT The Glass Box

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE When the Light Breaks

CHAPTER ONE

WHEN THE RAVEN WATCHES

Screech! A horrible shriek came from outside twelve-year-old Shawny Peterson’s bedroom window. She abruptly opened her eyes and looked around.

Tap, tap, tap. Shawny gasped when she saw a dark figure outside her window. She lost her balance and fell off her bed.

Who’s there? she said nervously as she scrambled to her feet. A light flashed on her face.

Shawny, open up!

David you scared me to death! snapped Shawny, nearly out of breath, as she threw open the window.

We were supposed meet at the park— David began.

Are you crazy! said Shawny.

But—

Go away, David, she said snatching David’s flashlight from his hands.

Meet me at the park tomorrow, usual time? he asked.

Fine, whatever. She slammed the window shut and watched as David climbed down the tree and ran home. Shawny sighed, turning back towards her bed.

Screech! Her body went rigid. She fearfully turned back around and flashed the light on the window. Her heart stopped. Fresh claw marks were etched into the glass.

She backed onto her bed, her eyes glued to the window. Then she quickly pulled the covers over her head. There was another Screech! But Shawny felt too numb to look. She quickly turned off the flashlight, clutching it as though it were a lethal weapon.

Beyond the window stood a raven. His small beady eyes stared at Shawny as he raised his razor-sharp talons, ready to strike again.

The next morning, Shawny woke up feeling exhausted. She had no recollection of what had happened the night before as she rubbed her tired eyes and dragged her unwilling body out of bed. Slowly crossing the floor, she smelled the sweet fragrance of her mother’s famous homemade blueberry-banana pancakes. She pushed her long brown hair behind her ears and continued toward the door until… Slip-CRASH-Ugh! Shawny slipped on her physics book, which she had left in the middle of the floor. She furiously rolled to her knees, grabbed the heavy book, and hurled it across the room. It hit the wall and flopped to the floor. Stupid book!

Is everything all right? called her mother from downstairs.

Yes, Mom, yelled Shawny angrily.

Breakfast is almost ready, shouted her mother.

Shawny grumbled as she grabbed some tape from her bedside table and pulled a super hero poster from the drawer. She stuck the poster over the dent her book had made and taped it into place. It was one of many super hero and super villain posters placed on seemingly random spots on her walls to strategically hide evidence of her angry outbursts.

Shawny threw on a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. She grabbed her shoes from the floor and froze when she saw David’s flashlight lying under her bed. She darted to the window, checking for claw marks, but nothing was there. Shawny shrugged her shoulders thinking it must have been a dream.

Suddenly, the smell of her mom’s blueberry-banana pancakes wafted into the room. Shawny raced down the stairs, jumping over the last three steps. She practically flew into the kitchen with one last burst of speed.

Hi Mom. Where are the pancakes? she asked with great anticipation.

Coming up, her mother answered, flipping a perfectly golden-brown blueberry-banana pancake. Shawny stared at the mouthwatering sight. Her stomach felt completely empty as she plopped herself down onto one of Mom’s antique wooden chairs.

Shawny’s mother gracefully crossed the kitchen with a large stack of pancakes. Shawny immediately put three hot pancakes on her plate and doused them with whipped butter and homemade maple syrup. Yum, yum, thought Shawny as she lifted her fork.

By the way, your dad said it was okay if you and David wanted to pitch your tents in the backyard tonight for a campout, said her mother.

Where is Dad? asked Shawny as she began stuffing her mouth with pancakes.

In the basement, said her mother, gently wiping her hands on her floral apron.

Again? What’s he doing down there?

He’s just doing his work. Shawny’s mother avoided eye contact with her daughter, always a sign she wanted to conceal the details.

He promised he’d take me and David to a water park this summer, snorted Shawny. I’m going to go see what’s up, she said, jumping out of her chair.

Her mother instantly blocked the doorway and told Shawny it wasn’t a good idea to disturb her father when he was working. Shawny crossed her arms.

Humph, I’m starting to think Dad’s hiding coffins and dead people down there. I figure I’ll smell formaldehyde soon, and the FBI will be showing up on our front doorstep, said Shawny, upset with her father’s constant need to be in the basement these days. It was as though he had completely forgotten her.

How about finishing up your pancakes?

As Shawny made her way back to the table, the cuckoo clock struck twelve.

Oh no, gotta go, Mom, Shawny made the rest of her pancakes disappear as though they had never existed. She quickly rushed from the kitchen through the living room and toward the front door in hopes that David would still be waiting for her.

Don’t stay out too late, called her mother.

I’ll be back later to set up the camp tents, yelled Shawny as she raced out the front door, slamming it shut behind her. Her mother sighed and put Shawny’s plate into the dishwasher. Then she leaned back against the counter and gazed distantly at the family photos on the refrigerator. Just to the right of the fridge was a pink heart perched against the wall that Shawny had hand painted and given to her for Mother’s Day.

She solemnly stared at the pink heart before placing her head within her hands, weeping silently.

Richard, Shawny’s father, made his way out of the basement and into the kitchen, where he found Shawny’s mother, Christine, in dismay. Are you all right? he asked, comfortingly.

She wiped the tears and mascara from the corners of her hazel eyes before looking up at him.

Look at your glasses, she sniffed, trying to smile as she gently pulled them off his face and cleaned the lenses with her apron.

Christine. She didn’t answer, placing the glasses back onto his strong, handsome face.

We’ll get through this, he said, pulling her into a secure embrace.

We’re going to lose her, she sobbed.

We have no other choice. Last night was way too close. We have to send her back now.

Christine pulled back a little and surveyed her husband through her watery eyes. He looked calm but she could see the distress behind his baby blues. But what if our fears are true?

Richard shook his head. We have to take that risk. Christine buried her face in his shoulder and continued to weep.

CHAPTER TWO

HIDDEN IN THE FOREST

David was patiently waiting for Shawny at the park, drawing warriors in the hot sand. He could feel his head burning in the summer heat. His thin red hair was no match for the blazing sun. He placed his backpack over his shoulder and took cover under a large metal slide. David was accustomed to Shawny’s tardiness, for he knew she wasn’t an early riser.

I’m here! yelled Shawny as she raced across the grass and jumped into the sand to announce her arrival.

Hi David, she said, panting loudly and peering around the slide.

I thought you might not show again, he said.

Come on David, I said I was sorry. Besides, you’re the one sneaking around people’s houses and waking them up at night. By the way, you look like a lobster, she remarked, observing his reddened state.

Oh man, Mom’s going to kill me, said David worriedly.

Not if I do first, said Shawny with a smug smile.

You won’t beat me this time, said David determinedly.

Poor David, five losses in a row.

Not even, you cheated last time, he said scowling.

How can you cheat when there are no rules?

David mumbled something about cheap shots but Shawny ignored him and headed for a large pine tree in the distance. David jumped to his feet and followed closely behind her, lugging his overstuffed backpack. Shawny tagged the big shady tree with her right hand and announced her victory. I win.

That’s not fair. You didn’t say it was a race, and besides, you had a head start, complained David.

Excuses, excuses, said Shawny, shaking her head and sighing.

David just took a deep breath and let Shawny have her moment of glory. He knew there was no reason to argue since Shawny always had to be right.

So what are we fighting for today? The Golden Kingdom, Atlantis, The Land of Silent Souls, or maybe we should think of something new, she pondered as she noticed several large stick-like branches surrounding the old pine tree.

None of the above. It has been a while since Shawny Peterson and David Tyler have battled for the land of Obsidian Blades, said David, opening his overloaded backpack. Inside were two expensive replicas of the Three Musketeers outfits.

David, where did you get those? asked Shawny as her entire body tingled with delight.

My grandparents. They love the stories I tell them about our adventures and thought we would like some real costumes, said David happily, handing Shawny hers.

No way, this is so cool! exclaimed Shawny, hugging her lavish Three Musketeer costume. Your grandparents are awesome!

I know. They even said they might get us more stuff for Christmas, added David as he examined his own costume with pure glee.

Come on, David. Grab a stick and let’s go put on our costumes, said Shawny, already sprinting to the nearby restrooms with a large stick in her left hand and her costume draped over her right shoulder.

Wait up! called David, shoving his costume back into his backpack as he grabbed a long stick from beneath the pine tree.

They wasted no time in the restrooms dressing in their theatrical attire, which included black pants and boots, puffy white shirts, feathered hats, leather gloves, and ponchos with crosses on them.

Even though David reached the restrooms seconds after Shawny, he managed to finish changing before she did. He waited patiently outside the restrooms, practicing his fencing skills. It was even hotter with long sleeves and a poncho on, but David did not care and neither would Shawny. They would suffer through anything for an adventurous battle.

En garde! roared Shawny, jumping out of the girls’ restroom, stick in hand and ready for battle. She really looked like a heroine. David felt paralyzed as Shawny’s striking blue-green eyes stared at him like a hawk staring down its prey. Her knees were bent, and she made small circles with her stick, preparing for attack. Shawny had never lost a battle for the land of Obsidian Blades, but David refused to give up since he was the one who had created the game, after all.

Battleground is at the edge of the forest, explained David with great authority and vigor. Without another word, both David and Shawny headed toward the forest that grew at the far side of the park. They quickly reached their destination. There before them was a creepy, dark, overgrown forest that was difficult to navigate. Two large rock piles sat on the border between the simple, peaceful park and the atrocious world beyond. Shawny and David called it Devilous Fortress and pretended that even their enemies who would seek sanctuary in the forest did not always survive. With sticks in hand, they prepared for battle.

For the land of Obsidian Blades, cried Shawny as she lunged forward with the first attack. David was caught off guard, but he still managed to parry the blow. Shawny slid back and recovered before David could manage to attack. They circled each other, stepping in and out, testing one another to see who would react first. Back and forth the friends parried, searching for another opening.

Shawny’s lack of patience drove her to prematurely attack again as she lunged forward right at David’s stomach, but he parried her wild attack, which left her unbalanced, and she awkwardly fell to the ground. With great excitement, David yelled, Gotcha! thrusting his stick downward toward Shawny’s chest.

Oh no you don’t, said Shawny as she strategically rolled sideways and avoided his harsh attack. The two were quick to recover and continued dueling back and forth. For a moment their sticks hit and slid forward, bringing the friends nose to nose. David and Shawny did not move even though the pressure between their sticks was vast. Their hands were almost touching, but neither backed down, for they knew if one attempted to score and failed, the other would surely win.

Their eyes met and sweat dripped from their foreheads. David’s soft, gray eyes showed immense determination as he stood strong to reclaim the world he had created; the land of Obsidian Blades. Shawny’s eyes were fierce, as her passion for winning left no room for mercy. Suddenly with all her might, Shawny slid her stick forcefully off David’s stick, causing a loud sound of scratching wood. As David tried to react, Shawny fell to one knee and jabbed her stick into David’s stomach. Shawny was victorious once again. David dramatically held his stomach, gurgling and choking as he made his way to the ground, mocking convulsions. Then he lay still to show his defeat.

Don’t worry, David, we all know girls are better than boys. Shawny picked a yellow flower from the ground and set it on David’s dead body. Then she raised her stick high in the air victoriously.

David lay still, feeling frustrated. He really thought this time he would beat Shawny. He slowly opened one eye and saw the little yellow flower lying on his chest. With that he bounced to his feet, dropping the flower as he remembered something.

Follow me, I have to show you something, said David. He hurriedly walked into the eerie forest.

It was a labyrinth of darkness, daring curious children to lose their way while ambushed by the fiendish trees whose clawed branches attacked intruders.

I’m not going in there, stated Shawny, folding her arms. Besides, I don’t want stickers in my socks.

Some warrior princess you are, said David impatiently. Shawny looked fiercely at him like an irritated tigress. David knew she couldn’t resist a challenge.

All right, but this had better be important, warned Shawny, eyeing the BEWARE OF SNAKES sign.

Don’t worry, Shawny. Snakes only bite if you provoke them, said David.

Like accidentally stepping on them, said