Prologue

Prologue

Anne Wright woke from bed the morning of her daughter’s departure to Elk Wood Camp dripping with sweat. Her eyes watered.

Years earlier, her daughter, Esthony Wright had frantically searched for her mother’s comforting touch. She’d fallen from her favorite oak tree outside. With dirty and bloody kneecaps, little Esthony had burst open the door to Anne’s art studio. Her small eyes focused on a dozen levitating paint brushes.

Detecting Esthony’s presence, Anne’s brown eyes filled with tears. Her daughter had discovered the truth of her powers. Steadily, she placed her hands on her daughter’s head. Out of her hand surged intricately woven visions of Ithika’s past.

Esthony’s little eyes lit with naïve excitement at the idea of traveling to a world called Ithika for summer camp. It was like something from one of her favorite books, “Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Except this was real life! She spun around toward the hallway to her father’s den. She couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.

After Esthony had left, Anne had knelt to the carpet. Her eyes grew gray and somber. She remembered the prophecy her family fought so very hard and long to forget.

“A descendent of King Ethius’s bloodline both human and Ithadonian would rise from the dark woods to bring restoration to Ithika and break the dark coven’s hold.”

Her eyes fogged with pain. The prophecy did not end there.

“A period of darkness must rise from her soul before the dark coven can be broken.”

Tears had welt up in her eyes. She alone knew Esthony’s powers were immense and the prophecy could be about her.

She had known the council would sense Esthony’s power. They’d summon her and her daughter to come back to Ithika. Her head slumped in pain. She couldn’t escape Ithika’s hold on her little girl. Her daughter would have to leave for camp Elkwood someday.

“Dark Queen, please choose another.” She had prayed long ago.

Today Anne Wright woke from bed the morning of her daughter’s departure to Elk Wood Camp. A loud gasp escaped her red lips. Her little girl was all grown up. That day long ago had past. Today Esthony would step out of this world into Ithika. Nothing would ever be the same again.