Entasy (Prophecies of The Nine)
Entasy
by
Brynn Myers
* * * * *
Entasy
ISBN: 978-0-9856703-2-0
Published by Amber Leaf Publishing
Copyright 2011 by Brynn Myers
All rights reserved
Cover design by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design and Photography
Free stock photo of woman courtesy of
Jessica Truscott
Edited by Kara Malinczak
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any use of name brands herein is done so under the Fair Use Act.
Table of Contents
Contents
I would like to thank my husband and my daughter for their endless patience and for putting up with the phrase "Just one more minute." I am not sure I could have done this without your love and support. I love you both so very much.
To Karon–I will never be able to thank you enough for the "script runs" on your lanai. You helped make Entasy what it is and I couldn’t be more grateful. Your love, support and patience helped me get through those moments when I was just not sure.
To Veronica–I can sum this up quick…thank you for everything!! For all the days you talked me off the ledge when I was certain I could not do this.
To Tish–Thank you for being such a fantastic mentor and friend. Your guidance and encouragement has been invaluable and I will be forever grateful!
I would also like to thank my family and friends for supporting me as I followed my dream of writing this book. I finally did it! WHOO HOO!
Special acknowledgements to Amber Leaf Publishing for believing not only in me but all of the characters I have rattling around in my head. I am honored to be a part of your team. To Regina Wamba for her fabulous cover art…Entasy came to life the moment she created the cover, and to Kara Malinczak for making this story even better than I thought it could be. Thank you all!!!
I have no idea how Vincent managed to get a table for three at Il Mulino on such late notice, but I was not about to look this gift horse in the mouth. Il Mulino was rated number two in Zagat’s Top 20 Best Restaurants in New York. The town car stopped in front of the restaurant, and we all stepped out as the driver held the car door open. The place was not crowded at all. In fact, it seemed as though we were the only guests in attendance. The waitstaff were the only other people around, and they too seemed to be in short supply.
We sat down and ordered a bottle of wine as we perused the menu. I spotted my choice the moment I saw the Tortellini alla Panna; I could almost taste the tortellini and the cream sauce melting in my mouth. When the waiter brought the wine, I heard my cell phone alert go off. I assumed it would be a text from my brother about what time he would be coming home, but instead, it was a message from Vivi. It said, "Go quickly to the back door, I need to speak with you." I glanced at the text twice before I stood to excuse myself. I couldn’t imagine why Vivi would be here and not with Tynan in Ireland. Did they come home early or something?
I looked around, trying to figure out how I was going to get to the back door–through the kitchen maybe? This whole situation was just so odd. I walked through the spotless, stainless steel kitchen wondering where the chef was. Shouldn’t there be pans clanging and sous chefs calling out orders? I couldn’t see any food in the works either: no garlic smell, no waiters hustling about. What the hell was going on?
When I finally reached the back door, it was locked, but there was an old antique key hanging from a crimson velvet cord next to the time clock. I shook my head, feeling as though I had finally lost it. The key slid into the lock easily, but the door wouldn’t budge.
Shit. Something must be blocking it on the other side.
"VIVI!! I can’t get the door open. It must be blocked. Can you try and open it from your side?"
The panicked scream had me shoving the door with my shoulder. The door suddenly burst open and thrust me into the pitch-blackness of the alleyway. The smell of wet, rotting grass permeated my nose almost instantly.
That is not a normal scent for a New York alley.
"Genevieve Ava Brannagh, you are scaring the hell out of me. Where are you? I can’t see anything." Feeling around for something, anything to guide my steps, I saw a light flickering in the distance. The brick wall to my left was barely illuminated, but there was enough light to use it as a guide. Panic began to overwhelm my thoughts.
Where was Vivi? Why had she screamed?
The solid ground before me changed as I took the next few steps; concrete turned into a mix of muck and water, and the brick transformed into thorny bushes.
I am definitely losing my mind.
Each step became increasingly difficult as I trudged on. The sharp branches scratched and scraped my legs as I walked next to what was a brick wall just a moment ago. A few more steps and I began to feel the blood as it dripped down my leg.
Great, the one night I choose to wear a dress and six inch heels is the same night I should have worn my jeans and boots.
The wind howled softly, so softly that it almost sounded like voices off in the distance. A faint scent of wood burning distracted me from the musky, earthy scent that seemed to fill the air.
I lost all sense of direction as one step turned into fifteen. Navigating through New York was one thing, but I had no idea where I was anymore. My little black dress was now tattered, and my Jimmy Choo’s were long gone from this swamp-like hell I was stuck in. "Dammit Vivi…you are so buying me a new outfit!"
I lumbered through the last bit of thick mud, finally reaching a shallow embankment. I sat down and rinsed my hands, rubbing the cool water on my arms. I stood, ripping the material that was hanging from my dress and used it to wrap the deepest gash on my right arm. I didn’t have time to take inventory on how many abrasions covered my arms and legs, but I knew that a warm sudsy bath and some peroxide were going to be a part of my future…hopefully sooner rather than later.
I saw a golden light shining behind a thick stand of trees. I paused for a moment, watching the shadows from the tree limbs dance to the rhythm of the flickering light. Branches began to snap with my forward motion as winged beasts began to fly out of their hiding places. I was a bloody, tattered mess, but I was determined to reach this light, determined to reach my sister-in-law. I could hear voices whispering in the distance, which were becoming increasingly louder the closer I got.
Something was nearby, because the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention. My heart began to race as the golden light turned to a tower of molten hot flames, reaching high above my head.
"Kyyyllllaaahhhh…," an eerie, scratchy voice echoed through the trees. "It’s time…it’s time for you to come home." I tried to run, but was locked in place as screeching beasts whizzed by my head, scratching and clawing at me. One of them materialized in front of me; its blood red eyes met my own as saliva dripped from its razor-sharp teeth. It grazed my ear as it whispered, "Mine."