Transformation

  The Hidden World

  Of

  Terrafirma

  Book one

  Transformation

  Author

  Tina M. Engel

  Book Cover Artist

  Sarah Bangs

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

  Copyright @ 2016 Tina M. Engel

  All rights reserved

  Paperback book

  ISBN-13: 978-1523284436 (CreateSpace-Assigned)

  ISBN-10: 1523284439

  BISAC: Fiction / Fantasy / General

  CreateSpace independent publishing platform

  4900 LaCross Road

  North Charleston, SC 29406

  USA

  Dedication

  This Book is dedicated

  to my daughter,

  Tess Lochner Stroup

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

  Thanks for sharing

  your love of Fey

  with me.

  And

  Teri Bangs

  The first to read

  this story,

  and pushed me

  to finish.

  Darkness Within

  Trickery and magic

  Clouding thought

  So begins the evil wrought

  Too late to stop the tragic

  If left in the mind

  Darkness and despair

  Run hand in hand

  And if given time

  May not repair

  If left in the heart

  Evil and wickedness

  The devil’s game

  Burning a terrible hole

  Through it the dark lord enters

  If left in the soul

  Beginning within

  Destroying oneself

  Always around

  The darkness within

  Justin Stroup

  Table of Contents

  Introduction……………………………………………………1

  Chapter 1……………………………………………………….6

  Chapter 2………………………………………………………23

  Chapter 3………………………………………………………40

  Chapter 4………………………………………………………49

  Chapter 5………………………………………………………55

  Chapter 6………………………………………………………72

  Chapter 7………………………………………………………79

  Chapter 8………………………………………………………93

  Chapter 9……………………………………………………..111

  Chapter 10……………………………………………………121

  Chapter 11……………………………………………………135

  Chapter 12……………………………………………………145

  Chapter 13……………………………………………………164

  Chapter 14……………………………………………………182

  Chapter 15……………………………………………………191

  Chapter 16……………………………………………………208

  Chapter 17……………………………………………………220

  Chapter 18……………………………………………………234

  Chapter 19……………………………………………………246

  Chapter 20……………………………………………………263

  Chapter 21……………………………………………………267

  Chapter 22……………………………………………………284

  Chapter 23……………………………………………………303

  Chapter 24……………………………………………………314

  Chapter 25……………………………………………………322

  Chapter 26……………………………………………………335

  Chapter 27……………………………………………………358

  Chapter 28……………………………………………………370

  Chapter 29……………………………………………………385

  Chapter 30……………………………………………………401

  Chapter 31……………………………………………………425

  Chapter 32……………………………………………………441

  Excerpt from book 2, The Sea of Change………………..450

  About the Author……………………………………………452

  Introduction

  Have you ever wondered what was out there just beyond your sight? You can see it but just not quite. You see a movement just out of the corner of your eye, but when you turn to look, it’s gone. Well I have a story to tell, and what a story it is. I hope that you can believe, it means the world to me.

  What a strange day I was having. As I walked home from work for lunch, I looked at a large old tree, with a twisted and gnarly trunk. I could have sworn that I saw a face staring back at me, but as quick as I saw it, it was gone. I paused for a moment, shook my head unnerved, and continued my walk home. I lived just a block from work, so I went home for my hour lunch daily. On that particular day, and several days prior, I took naps because I was just feeling a bit under the weather. Maybe it was just the winter blues.

  At work that same afternoon, I was minding my own business, when I heard a voice say, “Emilee, it’s time to come home.” I looked around but no one was there. I must be tired! I thought.

  I admit that I wasn’t feeling my best and sleep lately had been difficult. Waking with night sweats and strange dreams that disintegrate from my mind within minutes, after waking, was starting to bother me some.

  Maybe it was the books I’d been reading. I admit I’m hooked on these fantasy books about fairies, goblins, winter princes, summer queens, vampires, werewolves and other interesting characters. In my mind they’re all classified as Fey. Somehow the books drew me in and I felt at ease, like I could relate to these characters. Okay, now that’s absolutely absurd, I know.

  That night I decided it was bed time earlier than usual and hoped tomorrow would just be another normal day. Maybe I would sleep peacefully, with no strange dreams. I had hoped so.

  Water? Everywhere there was water! Waves crashing over my head, trying to breathe!

  I woke with a start. My heart was pounding so hard, I thought it would burst out of my chest. For a second I thought I heard a voice, “Emilee, it’s time to come home.”

  Now I knew I was going crazy! I got up, got a drink of water, walked through the house, checking doors and windows, and then feeling reassured that I was safe and sound, I went back to bed. I fell back to sleep and woke the next morning without having any more dreams, at least none that I could remember.

  The trees were on my mind as I walked to work that morning, and I could see all kinds of faces in the trunk; they were happy, sad, mad, funny and just plain scary. Were there really faces staring back at me, or was it just my imagination working overtime? I got to work and everything seemed normal again.

  As the days went by, the dreams of water, and faces in the trees continued to haunt me. The fatigue I felt worsened. At the end of each work day I headed for home, passed the tree (trying not to look at it) and entered my home, safe and sound.

  Working at my computer one d
ay and gazing out the window, I saw someone standing in front of the tree. He was leaning against the tree, looking straight at me. I looked down for a moment to save the document I was working on, and when I looked back up, he was gone. I tried to remember what he looked like. Had a person really been there? I didn’t know.

  I guess I should tell you a little bit about myself. My name was Emilee Stevens and I was 44 years old. I wasn’t the prettiest or the most book smart woman on the planet earth, but not bad in looks or knowledge either. I was no knockout with my pale skin and mousey brown hair that was slightly graying, but at times my pale blue eyes, had helped me stand out in a crowd. I say the word (was) because I am no longer this person. You will understand later, I promise.

  I had a love once upon a time, but it didn’t work out. Okay, it just about killed me when it ended, but I survived and I became an even stronger, more sensitive and understanding person after that. I think so anyway. I believe that the challenges in our lives, whether happy or sad, make us better people, if we let them.

  I lived in a simple, small, two bedroom house close to my work. I didn’t have a car; there was no need for one, because I lived in the small town of Pineville, in Washington State. My life was simple and my needs were few. Okay, after getting my heart broken, I probably did shy away from taking chances out there in the big world, but I was okay with that. Should I have been okay with that? I ask myself that question often. Probably not, but until I was ready to jump off the fence, I guess I just had to be.

  It was odd how I felt the need to go to the ocean. My dreams of the waves crashing on the sandy beach, the sound of the waves drumming in my mind, and the desire to dig my feet in the sand, were so strong sometimes. It was winter and I was sure it was just the winter blues. Still, I had felt this strong urge on and off all of my life. Sometimes I would seek out a small creek or pond in the mountains close to home, and just meditate while soaking my feet in the water.

  So, I went through the rest of winter living my simple no stress life; spring was just around the corner. I still had the dreams, still saw the faces in the trees, but nothing else different or more disturbing was going on. Let’s face it, this was disturbing enough.

  I looked forward to summer, to planning and planting my vegetable garden, digging in the dirt, weeding my many flower beds, and just getting dirty. I wanted to get the fountain on my patio filled and running. I loved being able to curl up on the patio in the hot afternoon sun, and just read or nap, and listen to the water gurgle and talk.

  I lived on the east side of the Cascade Mountain range and in that part of the state, the wind sure could blow. It talked softly at times and it bellowed at others. That was okay though, because the pushing and pulling of the wind felt real.

  I lived next door to my parents, and they were the ones who got me into gardening. Staying close to nature was important for the soul. It kept me grounded. We were middle class people, taking care of our small part of the world, along with the simple laid back people in our small little town.

  So now you know a little bit more about me or I should say, (the me), I used to be. Not a real exciting person or life, you’re thinking? Well I thought so too back then, but just hold tight to your seat, because you haven’t heard anything yet!

  Chapter 1

  There’s a tree in my yard,

  So big and so strong.

  It’s old,

  It’s twisted,

  It’s gnarly,

  It looks sad!

  It’s been cut,

  It’s been broken,

  But it still stands!

  There’s a tree in my yard

  It’s seen so much in its life,

  Being a home for so many.

  Been through all the storms

  Still standing tall.

  Does it feel pain?

  Does it feel pity?

  Does it want to cry?

  Still growing to the sky,

  There’s a tree in my yard,

  So big and so strong.

  It was March and the first day of spring. The robins were out in full force. I was always so happy to see the robins. I knew that Mother Earth was waking from her long cold sleep, and I so needed the new life all around me. The birds were collecting branches, dead leaves and whatever else they could find, to build their nests. The shrubs and trees were starting to show the new buds of life, and the tulips were sticking their heads out of the dirt. It filled me with hope; maybe a new door would open this time, this year.

  On my way to work, I walked by the old tree, and out of the corner of my eye, there was a movement ever so quick. I turned to look but there was nothing there. Now I hadn’t seen anything strange for over a month, but then I wasn’t looking real hard either. I was so tired of feeling this fear in the pit of my stomach, so I walked over to the tree.

  I reached out, and touched it ever so slightly. It was cold, rough and solid. What was that? I pricked my finger! How did I do that? I thought, as I looked down at the red dot starting to rise from my finger. I wasn’t pushing hard on the tree; how strange, I thought. Instinctively I put my finger into my mouth. It was just a little prick but as I looked at it again, the blood kept coming.

  “Oh great!” I said out loud, “Now I have to go back into the house, and get a bandage. I’ll be late for work.”

  I headed to the house. My finger was bleeding so much, and I didn’t want it to drip on the floor, so I put it back in my mouth. I made it to the bathroom, and removed my finger from my mouth. I saw a reflection in the mirror; a young woman whose mouth was red with blood, and eyes dark green. She was there for only a moment, and then it was my reflection I saw, with a shocked look, and a blood filled mouth. I spit out as much blood as I could; the taste was coppery, and I actually thought it quite good. With that thought in mind, I spit even more. I started talking out loud to myself again. If anyone was around to watch, they would think I was crazy.

  “How in the world did I cut myself this badly? Emilee, you’re such a klutz! And did I just see someone else in the mirror? And the blood tasted good? I am going crazy for sure.”

  I put my finger under running water, and saw there was a splinter in it. Getting the tweezers was a challenge, because the blood just kept coming faster and faster. I didn’t use my mouth this time, even though I had a desire to do so. Instead, I wrapped it up in toilet paper and rummaged through my vanity drawer, trying to find the tweezers. Finding them finally, I headed back to the bathroom. I removed the toilet paper from my finger, and went to work trying to remove the little piece of wood. Oh, that was strange, I thought. The splinter disappeared deeper into my finger. Then it seemed to wiggle to the surface again. After several tries, out it came. Was it moving? Was it trying to escape from the grasp of the tweezers? As I looked closer, I could swear it was wiggling.

  “Damn,” I said as I dropped the tweezers, and the splinter. As I looked into the sink, I was positive the splinter crawled inside the drain, and disappeared.

  I just stood there with my mouth open in shock, until I noticed my blood mixing with the water droplets in the sink, and running towards the drain. That shook me out of the strange trance, I seemed to be in. I washed my finger with some soapy water, dried and bandaged it. Looking down at the sink, I wondered how a small splinter could cause so much blood. I cleaned up the mess as best I could, and then looked back in the mirror. I touched my face, and wondered if I had really seen someone else staring back at me, or was I losing my mind?

  As I raced to work, I wondered how I was I going to explain this to my boss? Being late wasn’t acceptable; however Mr. Brown wasn’t too upset. I explained the situation, and he just wanted to make sure, I was okay.

  I guess I should explain where I work and what I do. In the quiet town of Pineville, we had one little grocery store. It had all the necessities you need to get by, but if you wanted anything unconventional, you would have to go into the bigger town of Ellensburg.

  I did a little bit of everything in the
grocery store. I worked at the cash register at times, but I much preferred filling the shelves with new product. I enjoyed working in the produce department, and helping the butcher wrap meat.

  With my bandaged finger though, Mr. Brown decided I should unload the new grocery shipment, instead of being with customers, or handling fresh produce. That was okay with me. I was feeling a bit unnerved, and didn’t really want to chit-chat with customers.

  When it was time for lunch, I decided to stay at work, buy a sandwich from our small deli, and sit outside to eat. It was a beautiful spring day, with just a breeze in the air. I felt strange still; slightly light-headed, and still imagined I saw faces in the trees all around me. After eating I felt a bit better. Funny I thought, I still had a slight coppery taste in my mouth. The afternoon went by smoothly, and before I knew it, it was time to go home.

  As I walked home, the sun was low in the sky, the breeze a bit cooler, and I was so ready to go home and veg out. I walked by the tree, and it just looked like a tree. This was good!

  There in my safe, warm and cozy house, I put on my sweat pants and slippers, and poured myself a glass of red wine. Mmm, the first sip was always so pleasant. It warmed me up inside, and relaxed the tense muscles just a bit.

  As I opened the refrigerator to figure out dinner, I looked at my bandaged finger.

  “Well Emilee, I guess it’s time to take off this Band-Aid and see what damage that tree did to you,” I said, to myself.

  I went to the kitchen sink, and removed the bandage. To my surprise, all that was on my finger was a small dot, about the size of a needle prick. It was funny though, as I ran my finger over the area, there seemed to be something just under the skin. It didn’t hurt but it was there.

  Well maybe there was a little piece of the splinter still in my finger, and it would work itself out. Nothing to worry about, I decided. I picked up my glass of wine, took another sip, and proceeded to fix dinner; chicken liver, mashed potatoes, gravy and broccoli. Yes, really. I had been craving chicken liver for months, and had it once a week if not more.