Time Cursed



  Time Cursed

  The Deities of Time Trilogy

  By

  Brooke Lile & Tiffany Roth

  Copyright 2014 Brooke Lile & Tiffany Roth

  Time Cursed is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design by Brandi Doane

  Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the authors, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  We would like to give a special thank you to Kristina Wells for her support and insight. We’d also like to thank our families for their encouragement, patience and enthusiasm through our writing process.

  PROLOGUE

  Marika leaned solemnly against the window ledge and stared thoughtfully into the Mangrove forest that surrounded her cherished home. Her dark black tresses waived gently in the breeze. Giselle, her maid servant and confidant, walked quietly over to Marika and gently smoothed down her hair. Giselle felt Marika's restlessness and worried for her. "It will all work out, Mistress. Soon your happiness will return and joy will fill our home again."

  Marika sighed. She stood and turned towards Giselle. Marika prided herself on never showing weakness. Worry and insecurity were not common feelings for her. It had been centuries since she had felt this empty. She was a woman of action and tonight she finally had taken the steps to wash the misery away. She realized she had been lost in thought as she stared at Giselle. Her vibrant violet eyes stared at the maid servant with a tenderness she had never shown a servant before. As she realized what she was doing her irritation began to swell. Her eyes darkened as she scowled at Giselle. She slapped the hand away from her hair. In a scathing voice she whispered, "I know that! Guard your words when the window is open you twit! Should someone hear you, my plan will be ruined and you will be the one that will suffer for it!"

  Giselle turned red. Before she could apologize for her ignorance Magdalen walked into the room. Marika and Giselle turned towards her. "Mistress, it is done," was all that Magdalen said as she bowed slightly to Marika. Slowly Magdalen backed out of the room. Marika stared at the space that Magdalen had occupied. Is it finally done, she thought. Her scowl slowly turned into a smile. Is it really true? She wondered to herself. She glided over to the chaise and unceremoniously fell onto it. “It is done," she said to no one in particular. She began to laugh quietly to herself. How easy it was she thought smugly. As she turned her gaze towards Giselle she jumped up from the chaise. "Giselle, I am ready for my bath. Have the servants bring the champagne. Tonight we celebrate!"

  "Yes Mistress" Giselle quietly responded and turned to close the windows of the sitting room. She paused for a moment and saw movement in the garden. It’s probably just a servant she thought and shut the window completely.

  * * *

  Silence.

  Cole stood in the garden and stared up into the sky. There was no moon tonight which made the stars shine even brighter than usual. This time of night was usually Cole's favorite. Midnight brought a peace to the garden that could not be replaced. This place was known as Mikoko Moyo, the heart of the mangroves. It was his home and he was its fiercest protector. As he drew his eyes towards the Mangroves he began to feel that tonight's silence was different. Cole had always had the ability to know when things were not as they should be which was one of the reasons he was chosen to be a protector. Suddenly he felt a tremor in the silence that he knew was caused by unnatural means.

  As he moved through the garden he began to feel a sense of dread. He moved with a stealth that surprised most people he met. It was unfathomable to most that a man that was six foot two inches tall and as strong as an ox could ever move with the grace of a gazelle.

  When he reached the entrance of the garden he saw a form on the ground that did not belong. As he drew closer he realized it was Sophia. She loved this garden and nurtured it with her own hands. Although lying in the garden was not unheard of for Sophia, Cole knew that she never came out at midnight. He had heard her crying here earlier in the afternoon but had thought little of it.

  "Mistress Sophia, are you well?"

  As he stepped closer to her his sense of dread increased. Sophia's beautiful strawberry blond hair flowed around her creating an angelic halo. Her beauty would radiate from her like sunshine pulling you into her warmth. As Cole stared down at her he saw that there was no warmth and the sunshine was no more. It was as though it had bled out of her and left a pale shell of what she had been.

  Sophia was dead.

  How it happened and why it happened was unknown to Cole. He knew he had to report this to Diokles but he dreaded being the bearer of this news. She was Diokles' heart and soul even if he didn't realize it. His temper was known to be quick and violent. Cole knew that whoever delivered the message was at risk of injury and death. He was the leader of the protectors; he knew he had to be the one to share the news with his lord. He, himself, felt his anger flare and was ready to exact revenge on whoever did this to Sophia, if indeed it was foul play.

  He gently covered Sophia with his cloak and called for his men. "Take her to the healer. Find out what happened. Speak of this to no one!" His men all stared at Sophia with looks of disbelief. Cole understood their confusion but had little patience for it. "NOW!" Cole commanded in a terse tone.

  As the men gathered her up and carried her to the healer Cole turned towards the Main House in search of Diokles. He found him in his sleeping quarters. Cole could hear the rhythmic tone of Diokles breathing and new that his lord was asleep. Cole almost turned to leave. He dreaded giving this news to his lord. He couldn't bear to see the pain and loss in Diokles’ eyes. Cole took a deep breath and entered the room.

  "My Lord! Forgive me for disturbing you so late in the evening…."

  Diokles was sleeping in his favorite chair by the fire. He slowly opened his eyes, looked at Cole and said in a raspy voice that oozed irritation, "What is so important that you interrupt my sleep!"

  "It is Mistress Sophia, my lord. Sh…she…My lord she is dead… I do not know how she died and have ordered my men to take her to the healer to examine her body."

  Diokles was so still that Cole was unsure what to do or say. Could the shock be too much? Did he hear what was said? Cole felt a hole in his stomach and dreaded the thought of having to say it again. After a long period Diokles looked at Cole with cold gray eyes and gave a weak smile. "Thank you, Cole. See to the burial. Make sure the twins attend the funeral. "

  Cole was stunned. Could he have heard correctly? Diokles cared for Mistress Sophia more than even his daughters. Yet his response was devoid of emotion. Cole stood there for a moment saying nothing. Then he collected himself, bowed his head and replied, “Yes, my lord. I will see to all the details. Is there a specific day you would like the funeral to fall on?"

  "No! Just get her damn body in the ground and out of my sight!!" Diokles yelled in a voice that shook with a rage only ever used for those who betrayed him. As he turned to leave he heard Diokles say in a faltering tone, "tell Arlana and Avalynn." Cole paled. How could Diokles not want to tell his daughters? Why would he ask a protector who only knew the girls from a distance?

  Cole left Diokles and headed to the healer’s cabin. He had no idea what had transpired between Diokles and Sophia but he began to wonder if her death was the result. Her earlier sadness, Diokles 'unwarranted rage and his coldness….He racked his brain ove
r what might have happened. They had seemed so happy only a few days ago, in those stolen moments at the lake. What could have happened? Cole was disgusted with himself. He was in this camp for one thing, to protect Diokles and what was his. He had failed. Cole had lost all that he had loved long ago; all that remained in his life was his duty to Diokles and his role as lead protector.

  Cole’s thoughts drifted to little Arlana and Avalynn, how do you tell 10 year old girls that their mother is gone forever? To atone for his failure to protect Sophia he would ensure the safety of her children on his life.

  He decided to wait until morning before he told them of Sophia's death. He sensed that the girls lives would be changed forever and wanted them to have one last night of peaceful sleep.