Odyssey of the Chosen: A Novel

By H. S. Theodore

Sam has good intentions when he takes his teenage children out sailing on the Atlantic. Rachael and Jayden couldn’t be more different; their arguments prove as much. Rachael thinks her little brother a coward, while Jayden knows he’s something special—even if the past still haunts him and his entire family, their mother Abigail included.
They set off for adventure, but when the sailing trip takes a turn for the worst, the entire family becomes embroiled in a war where they face supernatural enemies with preternatural power. Forced to believe in the unfathomable, they are led to destinies unknown to them but known to otherworldly creatures—one of good and one of pure evil.
As battle ensues, the world’s balance teeters on the shoulders of mere children. However, Jayden and Rachael soon learn they are the Chosen, spoken of in ancient prophecy. Terrified, the children resist, but can anyone run from their predestined fate? Everything hangs in the balance, and what began as a day on the water is now a fight for the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Oct 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781480847347

H. S. Theodore

H. S. Theodore is a theologian, doctor, writer, and scientist. As such, he blends his unique and explosive ideas into stories that thrill.

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Copyright © 2017 H. S. Theodore.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-4732-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-4733-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-4734-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017911131

Archway Publishing rev. date: 04/17/2018

CONTENTS

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1.

Chapter 2.

Chapter 3.

Chapter 4.

Chapter 5.

Chapter 6.

Chapter 7.

Chapter 8.

Chapter 9.

Chapter 10.

Chapter 11.

Chapter 12.

Chapter 13.

Chapter 14.

Chapter 15.

Chapter 15.

Chapter 16.

Chapter 17.

Chapter 18.

Chapter 19.

Chapter 20.

Chapter 21.

Chapter 22.

Chapter 23.

Chapter 24.

Chapter 25.

Chapter 26.

Chapter 27.

Chapter 28.

Chapter 29.

Chapter 30.

Chapter 31.

Chapter 32.

Chapter 33.

Chapter 34.

Chapter 35.

Chapter 36.

Chapter 37.

Chapter 38.

Chapter 39.

Chapter 40.

Chapter 41.

Chapter 42.

Chapter 43.

Chapter 44.

Chapter 45.

Chapter 46.

Chapter 47.

Chapter 48.

Chapter 49.

Chapter 50.

Chapter 51.

Chapter 52.

Chapter 53.

Chapter 54.

Chapter 55.

Chapter 56.

Chapter 57.

Chapter 58.

Chapter 59.

Chapter 60.

Chapter 61.

Chapter 62.

Chapter 63.

Chapter 64.

Chapter 65.

Chapter 66.

Chapter 67.

Chapter 68.

Chapter 69.

Chapter 70.

Chapter 71.

Chapter 72.

Chapter 73.

Chapter 74.

Chapter 75.

Chapter 76.

Chapter 77.

Chapter 78.

Chapter 79.

Chapter 80.

Chapter 81.

Chapter 82.

Chapter 83.

Chapter 84.

Chapter 85.

Chapter 86.

Chapter 87.

Chapter 88.

Chapter 89.

Chapter 90.

Chapter 91.

Chapter 92.

Chapter 93.

Chapter 94.

Chapter 95.

Chapter 96.

Chapter 97.

Chapter 98.

Chapter 99.

Chapter 100.

Chapter 101.

Chapter 102.

Chapter 103.

Chapter 104.

Chapter 105.

Chapter 106.

Chapter 107.

Chapter 108.

Chapter 109.

Chapter 110.

Chapter 111.

Chapter 112.

DEDICATION

As with any book, the final story is never told by just one author. Indeed, I have been blessed by an awesome, highly professional and patient supporting staff, as well as unending support from my family and friends.

Specifically, I thank God, the Father of Lights, from whom all good and perfect gifts come.

To my mother, who was an integral part of this project. Without her many efforts, this story would never have blossomed beyond the seed of a dream.

To Janet fix, Billie Hobbs, and Deborah Beck at thewordverve, my editing and publishing team. A writer couldn’t wish for a more creative, insightful, and sensitive group. I look forward to future endeavors.

To my father, who provided a stable platform of encouragement and all the love a son could ever need.

To my brother, who was a steady backbone for me and my family as I plotted my course for this book.

And to my friends, who were my earliest readers, critics, and sounding boards.

You are all beautiful and timeless.

PROLOGUE

Old Harborsville, Massachusetts

July 31, 1809

3:16 a.m.

S am was awakened from a dead sleep in the middle of the night by an urgent knocking on his front door. He climbed out of bed, threw on a robe, and took a quick look at the gold pocket watch he kept on his nightstand, a watch that had been in the family for generations.

What time is it? asked Abigail, as she, too, had been awakened by the persistent knocking.

A quarter past three in the morning, Sam said, his voice competing with the banging on his front door.

Who could be calling at this hour?

I have no idea, but I intend to find out.

Sam went to the front door not knowing whom he would meet, but confident he could guess the reason for the disturbance. Such occurrences had become an expected part of his life. While keeping the chain in place, he opened the door a few inches.

Who is it?

Please, sir, came a frantic voice, I must speak with the doctor at once.

Sam opened the door and saw a young man, sweating profusely and clearly in distress. I’m the doctor. What’s the emergency?

Please … sir, the young man stammered, my wife is giving birth … and the midwife is there. He gulped. But there’s been a complication. The lives of my wife and child are in jeopardy. The baby’s … in the wrong position … and my wife is bleeding uncontrollably! The midwife sent me to you. Please, Doctor, come now. There’s no time.

Sam threw on some clothes, grabbed his medical bag, and jogged alongside the young man to a house three blocks away. When he entered the home, Sam was taken immediately to the bedroom. The man’s wife was in bed, and the midwife was attempting to deliver a footling breech. But that was hardly the problem. The young woman had lost a great deal of blood, which saturated the bed beneath her. Additionally, she was having a difficult time breathing. Before Sam could even wash his hands or assess the situation further, the young woman experienced a full-blown grand mal seizure.

Sam had seen this many times before. The young mother-to-be was suffering from eclampsia, leading to hemorrhage and labored breathing. Sam gently asked her husband to wait in the next room while he and the midwife attended to the woman. Though Sam empathized, the young man’s hysteria was only making things worse and impeding Sam’s ability to communicate with the midwife effectively. Sam made no mention of the gravity of the situation to the father, for fear of elevating the distress of the already panicked young man. After the father left the bedroom, the midwife and Sam changed places. Sam tried to turn the baby around so it would come out head first, but the baby was already engaged. This was going to be a breech birth after all. Before he could attend fully to the mother, treat her seizures, and stop the bleeding, Sam had to deliver the baby. Meanwhile, the mother’s condition continued to worsen. Such cases were always so difficult since the physician had two patients to care for, both of whom were in critical condition.

The laboring mother remained unconscious after her seizure. In spite of this, Sam successfully delivered a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Sadly, the girl’s mother had lost too much blood and died only minutes after her daughter was delivered. Sam cleaned the newborn child, wrapped her in a blanket, and took the baby girl to her father.

Sam’s heart broke for the young man.

Sir, Sam said, as he held the baby girl out to him, you are now the father of a beautiful little girl.

The young father took the child, kissed her on the nose, and held her close to him. Choking back tears, Sam continued to speak.

Your wife lost a great deal of blood. We tried to stop the bleeding, but it was to no avail. I’m so sorry to tell you that she passed away shortly after your daughter was born.

The man started to tremble and began shaking his head. Tears ran down his face as he cried uncontrollably.

Why didn’t you save her? he screamed. How could you let my wife die like that? Please, sir, I did everything I could, Sam said, though he sensed this statement fell on deaf ears. That woman was my whole life, he wailed. I have no intention of raising a daughter alone. The moment my wife died in there … well, I died too.

The young father held his arms out to Sam and gestured for him to take the child. And so Sam did. The young man then fell to his knees, crying inconsolably, and ordered the midwife and Sam, who was still cradling the newborn, out of his house.

Sam left the man’s house with the child in his arms and, not for the first time, headed for the orphanage.

CHAPTER 1.

T here existed a small, timeless, oceanfront town called Old Harborsville in the northern part of Massachusetts. The primary industry for Old Harborsville was fishing, and most of the men and many of the women in the town had grown up on the water. Filled with accomplished sailors and fishermen (and some fisherwomen), the town was quite peaceful. Most of its residents lived in homes made of wood, evenly spaced along well-maintained dirt roads. The homes were built solidly enough to withstand the tough northern winters, and each contained at least one fireplace. Most had a garden outside where fresh vegetables grew. People got around town by walking or riding horseback or in horse-drawn carriages.

Old Harborsville was often filled with the aromas of freshly baked breads and pies. The caws of black crows and ravens could be heard almost daily, and at times the sky would be nearly blacked out by their migrating flocks. The sounds of the town were quaint and idyllic—the soft and unhurried clops of horses’ hooves, the sound of children’s laughter, and the friendly banter among townsfolk.

There were several small orchards on the west side of the town where farmers grew apples, plums, and apricots. On the eastern side were several wharves along the shoreline, some of which contained boathouses where folks could protect their boats from the elements. It was at one of these wharves where Sam kept his sailboat. His seventeen-year-old daughter Rachael and his fourteen-year-old son Jayden had accompanied him on many trips here. Not a fan of the water, his wife Abigail stayed ashore—for more reasons than one.

In many ways, Sam was no different from other fathers. He loved his wife and children and did his best to make sure they knew it. Still, he had to walk a fine line, because certain events of the past had far-reaching consequences that continued to plague his family. Whenever possible, he spent his free time with his family, teaching his children about nature, astronomy, boating, and people from other lands—not only for his children’s sakes but also for himself. To the thirty-seven-year-old father, doing so was not only a paternal obligation, but also an attempt to repair what was broken, an act of penance.

Of medium height and stocky build, Sam was an avid boater and a good athlete. A life-long resident of Old Harborsville, he was deeply connected to the people and the town, and it had been no surprise when he returned from college as the town’s doctor. It paid more in goodwill than it did in dollars, but Sam didn’t mind—it made more sense to him to be giving and kind than to be wealthy. In fact, his big heart was the cause of Sam’s constant anguish over the welfare of his family.

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Sam and his wife were in their bedroom, having recently awakened, preparing for the day.

Abigail, I think the time has come. Today, I’m going to take both children sailing with me. It’s been a long time since we’ve done that, and the weather is perfect for a day on the water.

Sam, the lake will be crowded with sailboats. Don’t look for more trouble.

Actually, I wasn’t thinking about the lake. I want to take the thirty-six-footer into the Atlantic Ocean. I think the kids are ready.

Why can’t you just leave well enough alone, Sam? Abigail said in an agitated tone. Why do you think you can fix this? You can’t! You can’t erase what has happened just because you want it to be so! You can’t save the world. Even God couldn’t save the whole world!

Careful, Abigail. You’re walking a fine line.

She snapped back in anger. At least I’m willing to draw a line, Sam. You, on the other hand, are too damn scared to even take a stance, let alone to draw a line, lest, God forbid, you should accidentally cross it. Life is not some giant equation to be solved, and neither is this family.

Damn it, Abigail. I’ve got to try something. I can’t be content to just sit by idly while the demons of our past slowly tear this family apart.

Then do what you must, Sam. As usual, I’ll be here to pick up the pieces.

Sam sighed deeply. Take your time getting up. I’ll go prepare breakfast.

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Within the hour, Sam and his family were seated around the breakfast table. Determined to see his plan through, he broached the subject with his children.

Rachael, Jayden, the weather today couldn’t be more perfect. What would you say to spending the day with me out on the water?

Jayden shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Abigail glared at Sam but said nothing.

You mean all three of us? asked Rachael with an incredulous tone.

Sure, why not? It’s been a long time since the three of us were out on the water together.

Thanks, Dad, but I think I’ll pass, Rachael said, rolling her eyes. The lake will be crowded enough without us. Why don’t you take Jayden? I’m tired of being the third wheel.

Sam took a deep breath, encouraging himself to stay calm. Actually, Rachael, I wasn’t planning on sailing the lake. I was thinking of taking the boat into the depths of the Atlantic.

Oh, yeah, Rachael snapped, like Jayden would ever agree to that. Dad, get real. Your precious little Jayden is nothing but a coward!

Shut up, Rachael, Jayden yelled. I am not a coward.

Then prove it! Rachael stood up, hands on her hips. Come with us out into the Atlantic.

Okay, kids, that’s enough, Sam said. Jayden, you’ll be with me the entire time, and I promise not to let anything happen to you. We’ll only be out for twenty-four hours, and we won’t go any farther than twenty-five miles offshore. With the good weather, there shouldn’t be any waves to speak of. Nothing will go wrong out there, I promise. What do you say?

Yeah, Jayden, Rachael sneered, what do you say? You’re not scared, are you?

Jayden dropped his gaze. Okay, Dad. I guess I’ll go. But does Rachael really have to come with us?

Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world, she said.

All right, you two, Abigail interrupted. Go get ready while I clear the table.

As the siblings exited the kitchen, Abigail looked at her husband and fixed her gaze sternly upon him. Just remember, Sam, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

CHAPTER 2.

S o it was, on a beautiful Saturday morning in the middle of summer, Rachael and Jayden kissed their mother goodbye and went to join their father for a day of sailing the Atlantic Ocean.

The trip to the wharf was brief, but for Jayden it seemed interminable, as he was filled with the recurring angst that had plagued him for years.

You know, kids, Sam said, I don’t think we could have picked a better day for sailing. Old sailors say that weather this beautiful is a sailor’s good luck charm, the predictor of the perfect day.

Yeah, said Rachael, looking at Jayden out of the corner of her eye in an attempt to terrorize him further, or it’s the calm before the storm.

Jayden shuddered and began to chatter in order to calm his nerves. Dad, do you think we’ll see any dolphins or whales?

Rachael answered before her father could. "Jayden, you know we have to go out about ten or twelve miles before we see any fish of that size … and there won’t be any land in sight."

First of all, said Jayden, whales and dolphins aren’t even fish; they’re mammals. Secondly, I’m not scared to go out that far anymore. He twisted his fingers and looked down at his feet. I’m not six years old, you know.

Yeah, said Rachael, her voice filled with sarcasm, and maybe you’ll see another mermaid, just like you did the last time. In fact, maybe this time, we’ll all get to meet her.

Jayden’s eyes burned with tears of rage and humiliation. "Shut up, Rachael. I did see a mermaid. I can’t help it if you’re too blind or too stupid to see them yourself, but I know what I saw. Jayden turned to his father. You believe me, don’t you, Dad?"

Of course I do, Jayden.

Why do you always do that, Dad? Rachael said, frustrated. Why do you always pretend to believe his lies? Why can’t you just be honest with him?

Rachael, sometimes people see what they need to see, especially when they’re scared. Some people hear voices that they believe are trying to help them. Stress can do that.

Jayden’s a coward and a liar, and all you do is feed into it.

As he so often felt before, Sam’s heart was breaking. Rachael, we’ll talk about this later. Can we just have a pleasant day together?

Sure, Dad, whatever you want. But just remember this: Jayden’s not your only child. You actually have two children, in case you hadn’t noticed.

Rachael, I need a little grace on this. Can we agree on a truce until later?

Whatever, she said, as she readied herself to embark.

Okay, you two, said Sam, let’s untie the moorings and set our heading with the oars. Once that’s done, we’ll raise the mainsail and the jib. Since we have tailwind, we should be out into the open ocean in no time.

Aye aye, said Jayden, as he loosened the moorings at the bow. Rachael untied the aft moorings, and soon the sails were up and billowed by the favorable, east-heading winds.

Just prior to their departure, a stranger at the end of the pier caught Sam’s attention. Wrapped in a black cloak that hung to the ground, he wore a black, wide-brimmed hat, which hid his face in shadows. He waved to Sam and his children, calling out, Have a good trip, my dear Captain, and may favorable winds guide your journey.

Sam gave a friendly wave, and Jayden asked, Who is that man?

Scratching his chin, Sam said, I don’t know, son. I’ve never seen him before.

That man gave me a really creepy feeling, said Rachael.

Creepy feeling, how? asked her father.

It’s hard to explain, she said. Kind of like the beginning of sea sickness, only a little worse.

Well, I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Sam said, though he admitted to himself feeling much the same about the man in black. He shook it off, clapping his hands together. Now, let’s get sailing!

There were one- to two-foot seas, which were nothing more than a light chop for their thirty-six-foot sailboat. In less than an hour, the eastern seaboard was no longer visible, and the only sounds heard were the lapping of the waves against the boat’s hull and the occasional squawk of a seagull. With the sails trimmed, Sam, Rachael, and Jayden set a leisurely pace to the east.

Knowing they would spend the night on the water, Sam and his children began to fish for their dinner. The hooks were baited with shrimp and cast into the sea. Not long afterward, Sam and his children sat down to a dinner of cod, whiting, mashed potatoes, and corn bread, with apple pie for dessert. Prior to dinner, some fifteen miles east of the shore, Rachael had turned the boat south to take advantage of a slow, south-flowing current.

After the sun had set and the stars slowly appeared in the sky, Sam continued the lessons begun long ago. Okay, Jayden, which star is known as the North Star?

That’s easy. It’s called Polaris.

Very good. Now, can you find Polaris in the night sky?

Jayden thought for a minute and then pointed. There it is, right there!

Rachael stared at the star but said nothing.

Rachael, do you agree with your brother? Sam prompted.

Well, it looks like Copernicus got it right this time, she said.

Handing Rachael a sextant, Sam said, Okay, Rachael, show Jayden how to use the sextant to plot a southern course by the North Star and then another fixed star of your choosing.

No problem, she said with her usual teenage arrogance. For the next half hour, the lesson of nighttime navigation continued.

Afterward, while lying in hammocks tied between the masts on deck, Sam treated his children to one of his famous bedtime stories, regaling them with tales of courageous, heroic people from an ancient and faraway land. In the strangest way, not expressible in words, Sam had recently begun to wonder if his stories came entirely from his imagination, or if in some way he was actually remembering them as part of his own past.

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The following morning, a bright, orange sun rose in the east, coloring the tapestry of an otherwise cloudless sky. After a breakfast of French toast, eggs, oatmeal, and orange juice, Jayden took the helm and set a course to the north to begin the journey home. Several hours later, at about eleven a.m., a shadow was cast on the three sailors from above. Almost immediately, the sky darkened as a massive flock of black birds flew high overhead.

Dad! cried Rachael. What could those possibly be? I’ve never known a flock of crows or ravens to be this far out at sea.

Taking a telescope, Sam looked to the sky.

Rachael, my dear, they only look like birds because they are really flying five miles above us, replied Sam, concern in his voice.

Jayden was clearly panicked by the flock above them. What are those things, Dad? Tell me what they are!

I have no idea what they are, Sam said, speaking slowly. I only know that I have never seen anything so terrible in all my life.

As if on cue, a horrible, high-pitched screech came from the beasts in the air. The sound was deafening, felt as much as heard. Then, as quickly as the winged creatures had come, with an enormous gust of wind, they were gone.

There was no time for reflection or celebration. The previous darkness of the sky now returned in the form of angry, black thunderheads reaching to nearly forty-five thousand feet, extending twenty miles in all directions. As the thunderheads swirled counterclockwise, lightning exploded into adjacent clouds. The lightning bolts were so numerous that at times they appeared as fractured spider webs. The sea became a roiling cauldron with ten-foot, white-capped waves crashing over Sam’s sailboat.

Lightning crashed down into the sea, vaporizing water into enormous plumes of steam. The ensuing thunder was deafening. Sam had no time to reel in the sails. He and Rachael went to the helm to try to control the boat’s direction, but the force of the storm was too much to overcome.

Look! Look there in the water, cried Jayden. You see those fins sticking out of the water? Those are dolphins. The dolphins are here to save us.

Sam focused on the area where Jayden was pointing.

Dad, Jayden said, looking up at his father, if we end up in the water, the dolphins will surely save us.

I wish that were true, son, but I’m afraid that won’t be the case this time. Sam did not look at Jayden as he spoke but instead stayed focused on the sea, shaking his head.

Why not, Dad? Why wouldn’t the dolphins save us?

Because, Jayden, those aren’t dolphins … they’re sharks.

CHAPTER 3.

M eanwhile, on an island in the middle of an uncharted sea nearly halfway around the world, an old man with long gray hair and white beard sat alone in his small, one-room wooden shack. A single candle burned in the middle of the table in front of him, the man deep in thought.

For the first time in many years, this man, Lammanort, had a terrible feeling, a combination of fear, sadness, helplessness, and loss. Knowing there could only be one reason for this, he removed a jeweled necklace from around his neck and held it in his hand. Moving his lips silently and speaking in a language known only to a select few, Lammanort dangled the jeweled pendant in front of the candle flame, letting the pendant turn freely.

The light from the candle passed through the jewels and played out on the walls around him. At first, there were just random multicolored dots on the four walls, but soon they came together in an intricate dance. To anyone else, the lights on the walls would appear to have been splashed about by a kaleidoscope. But Lammanort saw a scene unfold before him, as if each wall was receiving light from its own movie projector. The images were clear and precise—to anyone who could see in four dimensions.

Lammanort watched the scene calmly. A father and his two children enjoyed a peaceful sailing trip together, at first. Then, the sky darkened with hundreds of shadowy, winged dragons passing miles overhead. Within minutes, the three sailors were fighting for their lives in a raging thunderstorm.

So, Lammanort murmured, after centuries of relative peace and quiet, it has finally begun.

Having no doubts about the meaning of what he’d just seen, Lammanort prepared for what he knew must follow. Before him on his kitchen table was an ancient, sacred text called LAMPS 16/150. The last time this scroll was opened, humans were but part of an unfolding, futuristic dream. But now the time was right. He opened the text, read the words, and then spoke once again in a strange and magical tongue. Once spoken, the words could never be taken back. Of course, he knew the same thing was happening in the castle at Baktar Din, where Ayin-Ra, the Dark Lord and supreme commander of evil, lived. Certainly, the final outcome sought by those serving the evil lord was far different than that sought by Lammanort.

CHAPTER 4.

T he storm raged around Sam, Rachael, and Jayden. Waves continued to batter their sailboat this way and that, crashing over the railings and onto the deck. They were nearly blinded by the constant stinging of the saltwater. The thunder and the sound of the raging sea made it impossible for Rachael and Jayden to hear their dad’s commands, though they tried.

Just then, an enormous wave at the boat’s bow lifted the tiny craft to near vertical. Before the boat could come crashing down into the wave trough that followed, a lightning bolt struck the center of the deck, and the center mast exploded. As the boat slammed down into the sea, it splintered into half a dozen disconnected pieces.

Sam and his children were thrown violently into the sea. They could not see or hear one another, and as they struggled to stay above the water’s surface, each could only wonder if they were the sole survivor. As they struggled to find a piece of wood to hold on to and keep themselves afloat, they found that with each breath, they were inhaling more water than air.

Sam closed his eyes and accepted that the end was near. Sharks began to circle their position. Though not one to normally pray, he whispered a final request, hoping that someone or something out there would hear him.

Please, he whispered, take care of my wife and children when I’m gone.

As exhaustion overcame them all, the seas seemed to still. There was quiet, and beams of sunlight burst through the clouds to shine down upon them in an otherworldly display.

Perhaps, Sam thought, this is what it feels like to begin to die.

As he looked around, he realized that the eye of the storm must be directly overhead. The wind and rain had stopped, the waves had calmed, and a huge circle of clear, blue sky could be seen overhead. For the first time in what seemed like hours, Sam dared to hope again.

His hopes were soon dashed as a giant, glowing cloud filled the storm’s eye. This cloud radiated a brilliant white light in all directions. As this cloud began to descend, it seemed to Sam as if a piece of the sun was somehow hidden in the middle of it. He was so overcome by the strangeness of the situation, he failed to notice the original storm clouds had scattered to the periphery. This bright white cloud continued to descend until it landed on the water. Then, a rainbow of colors surrounded the cloud, while its light continued to glow, incongruously blinding yet gentle to the eyes.

Suddenly, the cloud and the light disappeared. Floating on the water, in place of the cloud, was a large, fifteenth-century Spanish galleon, the Nefesh. The ship was large enough that those unfamiliar with such vessels might easily have mistaken it for a man-of-war. Unable to believe his eyes, Sam reasoned it was a hallucination brought on by exhaustion and the grief of losing his children at sea.

Almost immediately, he had the sensation of moving forward through a cold, dark, long tunnel. Though he was not a particularly religious man, Sam realized the eternal destiny that awaited him.

Indeed, in death, as in life, I have failed, he thought. And then he thought nothing at all.

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Jayden was overcome by panic and exhaustion. Though the seas were now calm, his mind was not. Losing the battle to fatigue and disorientation, the teenager slipped beneath the surface of the water, unable to fight any longer. Just before losing consciousness, he imagined he felt the embrace of a small and fragile pair of arms. Sadly, his natural instinct to breathe overcame his instinct not to, and Jayden’s lungs rapidly filled with water. The pain, while excruciating, was mercifully short lived.

Jayden was suddenly at peace and had the unmistakable sensation of floating upward … in the hands of a giant marshmallow? He let himself fall into a rhythm of comfort and soon succumbed to an unconscious state once again.

When he eventually awoke, he could not bring his eyes fully open—the light beyond him was too bright. He could swear he heard someone calling him by name. When he finally was able to peer through cautious slits of his eyes, he was staring into the face of his sister.

Well, well, said Rachael, look what finally washed up out of the ocean.

Rachael, is it really you? Jayden whispered, still confused and disoriented.

Of course, it’s me, she said brusquely, and for God’s sake, get hold of yourself. I haven’t the time or energy to deal with a basket case.

Are we dead?

Do I look dead to you?

Well … no.

Then I guess we’re both alive, which is more than I can say for our father. In spite of her anger and fear, Rachael’s eyes brimmed with tears.

Rachael, what happened?

Jayden looked around at the deck.

I’ve been scanning the water for the last fifteen minutes and there’s no sign of another survivor. Rachael’s voice was quickly rising in a crescendo of anguish and rage. Jayden, Dad is dead!

Jayden became hysterical then, tears alternating with a quiet stupor, which continued for hours.

Eventually he cried himself out and began to calm down. When he could once again speak, he addressed his sister. Rachael, what happened out there?

What kind of stupid question is that? she snapped.

Jayden didn’t answer. Rachael did not understand his meaning. His expression took on that old, recurring, faraway gaze, the one that always overcame Jayden when he was distressed, the one that allowed him to retreat to his personal place of safety.

Oh, no you don’t, his sister growled at him. Don’t you dare disappear into fantasy land and leave me here to figure this out all by myself.

Just tell me what happened, Jayden said in a voice that was eerily calm.

I have no idea. One minute I was hanging on to a piece of wood from our boat, just trying to keep my head above water, and the next thing I knew, this ship came up alongside me, lowered a net, scooped me up, and then lowered me onto the deck. As soon as I landed on deck, I began to search for you and Dad. You were in a net, too, and came up the same way. But I still haven’t seen Dad.

What do we do now? Jayden asked, wiping away the tears that threatened again.

I’m going up to the crow’s nest to continue to look for Dad. You need to search the ship and find someone who can help us. There’s got to be at least two dozen sailors on board a ship this size.

Jayden returned twenty minutes later and found his sister standing next to the starboard gunwales on the ship’s bow.

Did you find any sign of him? he asked, desperate to have his father back, alive and well.

No, Jayden, Rachael said angrily.

Tears fell down his face. This snapped any patience Rachael may have had left in her.

You’re scared of your own shadow. Ever since your stupid accident, you’ve been so scared of the water. That’s why Dad arranged this boating trip, and now, because of you, he’s dead! Rachael shook her head in frustration. I asked you to find someone to help us. Can you at least do that?

I looked around, but there’s no one here except us. I think we’re totally alone.

That’s absurd. Ships don’t just sail themselves and cast nets into the sea.

It was Jayden’s turn to snap. Well, Rachael, apparently this one did!

She sighed, deep and long, angry at Jayden’s inability to cope with stress…or reality. You’ve got to get a grip on yourself. Whether we’re alone or not, it’s obvious that we can only count on each other right now. Can you handle that?

I guess so, he said hesitantly, but neither of us knows how to sail a ship.

Just think of it as a really big sailboat.

Uh … Rachael?

For God’s sake, what is it now?

Are you sure mermaids aren’t real?

Rachael closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, breathed in slowly. Yes, I’m sure. What’s up with you about the mermaids? Just stop it!

Jayden lowered his eyes and thought of a saying his father taught him years ago: To them that believe, no explanation is necessary. To them that do not, none will suffice.

CHAPTER 5.

A s Lammanort watched the final scenes of the crisis in the Atlantic Ocean unfold before him, he thought it sad that otherwise innocent people should be thrust into a war they had not chosen, but rather, a war that had chosen them. Still, he knew he was right to have sent the Nefesh .

Even with Rachael and Jayden safely reunited aboard the ship, Lammanort was uncertain whether he had won or lost the first battle. The loss of Sam was tragic, but a partial victory was won in the rescue of his children. Victory, Lammanort knew, was only a temporary and relative thing as long as the war raged on. For now, all that could be done had been done. He pulled the jeweled pendant away from the candle’s flame and placed it around his neck once again.

CHAPTER 6.

A s I receive reports from several of my lieutenants about the debacle at sea, I have reduced myself to howling at my men in rage and humiliation. My carefully laid plan, which was perfectly orchestrated, was entrusted to a worthless group of bungling idiots. Once again, Lammanort stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. I swear, by all that I am, I will destroy that man and all who dare to serve him. True, I was able to get to Sam, but my archrival, Lammanort, somehow managed to save Sam’s pathetic children. And that could prove to be a very big problem indeed.

I have never been one to accept defeat, and those who have failed me will pay dearly. I will not be deprived of what is rightfully mine, and I look joyfully to the day when I will kill Rachael and Jayden as Lammanort helplessly watches.

CHAPTER 7.

R achael and Jayden stood on deck, trying to make sense of all that had just happened. Knowing they now needed each other more than ever, they agreed on a temporary truce.

Though unable to explain their rescue by what seemed to be a ghost ship, neither Rachael nor Jayden could deny they were on a large, well-built Spanish galleon. They searched the ship and found a dry change of clothes and plenty of food and fresh water.

While exploring, the two siblings came upon the captain’s library. Though the library was filled with books, maps, charts, and ancient texts, they had a harder time finding information about the ship itself, though eventually they did.

From the keel to the uppermost deck, upon which the gunwales sat, the ship was four stories high. When the ship was in the water, about eight feet of the hull sat below the waterline, depending on the weight the Nefesh carried.

The Nefesh was made of a unique wood found nowhere else on earth. It was the color of oak wood, mixed with a lighter brown. The wood grains were highly polished to a smooth luster. Though all seals were watertight, oddly enough, none of the seals were filled with pitch or tar.

It’s almost as if sea worthiness were an inherent part of her nature, Rachael thought.

The ship had four masts, with the largest mast just aft of the ship’s center. At the base of this mast was the console, which housed the rudder control wheel used to steer the ship. The ship could carry about fifty percent more sail than other ships of a similar size. This made the Nefesh faster than other galleons; she could also outpace most sloops and man-of-war ships.

The Nefesh was two hundred feet long and forty feet wide. On the first level was the captain’s library, which contained a large, wooden table surrounded by eight captain’s chairs.

On the lower levels were the living quarters. Each room had two beds, two hammocks, a writing desk, two chairs, two dressers, and one small standing wardrobe. The second deck also had two bathrooms, complete with toilet, sink, shower, and a bath. The storage room was used to store fresh water collected from rainstorms and lakes.

On the lowest level was the cargo hold, featuring twenty-four cannons, most of which fired a nine- or twelve-pound shot. The four cannons of the ship’s bow were mobile six-pounders.

The crow’s nests sat on the highest center mast and the forward-most mast. Two anchors on either side of the ship would support its position.

Though there was much more to learn about the Nefesh, at least now they knew the basics, and combined with their dad’s previous maritime lessons and the countless hours they had spent sailing, Rachael and Jayden hoped that would be enough to get them home.

Rachael and Jayden prepared dinner and ate together in the library. Jayden, Rachael said cautiously, I still can’t believe what happened. In fact, in some strange, slight way, I still feel as though this is all part of a dream.

Once again, Jayden had that faraway look on his face and acted as if he was being interrupted from a silent conversation known only to himself and one other person. He finally said, Rachael, who is it that keeps whispering to me?

She rolled her eyes, immediately exasperated. Jay, you promised you wouldn’t do this. When are you going to learn to face reality like a man? When anything goes wrong, you disappear into your own delusional world. It only makes matters worse for everyone. She inhaled and exhaled deeply. All you hear is the wind. Remember, the wind at sea whispers to every sailor. At least that’s what Dad told us.

Jayden would not back down. Rachael, I’ve been sailing long enough to know the sound of the wind. What I’m hearing is sort of halfway between a whisper and a thought. I’m not sure if I’m hearing it, thinking it, or something in between.

All you need right now is a good night’s rest. We both do. When you wake up in the morning, hopefully you’ll be much more … uh … normal.

Maybe you’re right. But I have the strangest feeling that neither of us will ever be our usual selves again, and to tell you the truth, I think it’s going to be a very good thing.

She eyed him for a minute than shrugged. Whatever … we’ll drop the anchors, stay put for the night, and then in the morning we’ll try to make our way home.

A few minutes later, Jayden and Rachael were on deck, heading toward the anchor at the ship’s bow. When they arrived at the forward anchor, they realized it had already been lowered and set. In fact, the same was true of the aft anchor.

"Rachael, I can’t explain how I know this, other than to tell you that the Nefesh has been talking to me since we arrived. The ship lowered her anchors by herself. But now that we’re aboard, now that we are physically here, we are responsible for the ship’s operation."

His sister was getting infuriated with her brother’s inability to cope with stress. Still, she played his little game, just to keep him calm, and also because she had lost the will to fight him. I suppose the ship actually told you that, right?

In a manner of speaking, yes, Jayden said, perhaps more confident in this statement than any he had ever previously made.

She shook her head and made no comment. After saying goodnight to each other, the exhausted teens headed to their cabins and were soon fast asleep.

That night, they had dreams unlike any they had ever had before. Each was treated to visions of the past and of the future. They were visited by characters that could only be part of some incredible fantasy, from realms beyond their own, each one an interconnected part of an unfolding drama. What’s more, Rachael and Jayden saw themselves at the center of this unraveling plot. As the dawn broke, they each knew without question that they had been initiated into something more fantastic than could have ever been previously imagined. Furthermore, they each had some sense of their objectives, though the details remained clouded and undefined. They were on a new course, destination unknown.

The next morning, after a surprisingly restful sleep, they showered, dressed, and met once again in the captain’s library. Neither of them said a word to each other for a long time. The looks on their faces said everything. It was clear to both of them that during the previous night, the Nefesh had spoken to each of them in her own private way.

Finally, Jayden looked at Rachael and placed a hand on her arm. He said, I’m in.

Rachael was more discomfited than ever. A skeptical person by nature—and this was all so surreal—she was reluctant to believe that maybe Jayden was partially right. Nevertheless, her unbridled spirit and curiosity got the best of her. She put her hand on top of Jayden’s. I’m in too, she said.

CHAPTER 8.

R achael and Jayden stood on deck for several moments in silence, looking out to sea, a vast green blanket before them. Though the specific goal of their journey was still unknown to them, they were committed to the path before them. What else could they do but follow what seemed to be a calling? They would not deny it. Given their most recent experience at sea, they suspected the voyage would be laden with dangers and forces of unimaginable evil. On the other hand, they sensed the presence of an equally powerful force of good that would guide them somehow.

Jayden was first to break the silence. What should we do now?

What kind of stupid question is that? Rachael said, beginning her sentence in a normal tone of voice and working herself into a near shout. How about trying to sail this ship back to Old Harborsville?

Jayden wanted to speak boldly, but his confidence failed him. Plus, his sister was hard to deal with when she was in one of her moods—which was most of the time. He approached the subject as calmly as he could, given the butterflies in his stomach. Yesterday I would have agreed with you. But after last night, I get the feeling that’s not where we’re needed, in Old Harborsville. There’s a reason we’re here, Rachael, on this ship, in this situation … and you know that’s true. We have to find that reason.

What do you suggest then?

I think we should go to the captain’s library and see if we can find charts of the area. We might find something that will tell us where we should sail next.

She raised her hands in frustration. Jayden, get real. We’re all alone.

He snapped back, No Rachael, we are not alone. Don’t you get that? Plus, I have every reason to believe that a set of instructions are waiting for us aboard this ship.

What makes you say that?

Well, it’s hard to explain.

Did the ship tell you that we’d find a clue in the library?

Yes, Jayden said, his tone confident.

Rachael nodded in an uncharacteristic show of agreement. Okay, here’s what we’ll do. We’ll go to the captain’s library and look for this clue, or instructions, or whatever. But if there’s nothing there, then we’re going to raise the anchors and set sail for home. We can’t just flounder out here waiting to be spoken to by some Great Unknown.

And if we do find something?

If we find something definite, then we’ll follow that lead. Satisfied?

Jayden gave her a half-smile and took off toward the library.

Moments later, they were poring over maps and charts of the Atlantic Ocean. There were so many islands, many of which had never been visited by humans and still others that few people knew existed. Also open on the table were several scrolls, some on paper, others on parchment. Some were written in a strange language, and one had a mystical quality, such that the letters and symbols actually floated off the page so that it could be seen in three dimensions. Rachael found the 3D map particularly unnerving as it hovered in front of her, but realized it was yet another testament to the fact that nothing was