Hidden Gateway- Book One (Preface- Chapt One)

PREFACE

TO BE A SACRIFICE OUT OF LOVE FOR THE FAMILY WHOM YOU LOVE, IS JUSTIFIED ...

Being a sacrifice for unknown worlds – you

never knew existed – is something one never

believed could happen to them. I was born to be that sacrifice. Can I go through with

what is expected of me to bring peace back

to three different worlds? I am not alone in this endeavor, and together the two of us must find the love and the strength to conquer the darkness that plagues our worlds with evil; even if it means our lives.

~ Rayana Karver, Princess of Valaisha

CHAPTER ONE- The Guardians

Today is a warm day for this time in October. It is usually chilly with everyone wearing heavy jackets as the weather begins to change towards winter. Today I was dressed in a thin baby blue pullover sweater with my sleeves pushed halfway up and jeans. As my best friend Sara and I sat outside the library Sara, nudged me and nodded in the direction of the parking lot.

I noticed the mysterious family that always came into town together; they do their business for a few short hours then leave to go home, wherever that may be.

The mother always wore a long flowing skirt and a peasant blouse. Her long brown hair with silver streaks hung in a single braid down her back. She was beautiful and looked very kind even though they seem to stay to themselves.

The daughter looks about my age with long curly brown hair wearing a headband to keep the hair from falling on her face. She usually wears mixed-matched-looking clothes much like one of those nature lovers, and always wore sandals until it snows. I have seen her many times at school, but she always stayed to herself. I have wanted to go up and speak to her many times only my friends kept me occupied. Mostly Jason, another best friend who grew up with us. Each time I would attempt to go over and talk to the girl, Jay would always stop me and keep me distracted, so eventually, I gave up trying.

Today the girl is dressed in a blue floral skirt bunched up and tied on the side with white leggings under it and a comfortable-looking mint green pullover sweater.

The family always come to the library this time of day. Why? No one knows.

Sara and I were sitting on the stout brick wall surrounding the small garden outside the library talking and waiting for our other two friends to arrive.

The family is always seen driving a late seventies powder blue Ford crew cab truck with a few small dents.

I have heard one time through the town's gossip line; the family had a son. Although I had never seen him, he is an older boy a few years older than me. I wonder if anyone has ever seen him? The story went he has been living with relatives out of state. Or so I’ve heard. And no one knows the reason as to why?

Today the dad is not with them, which seems odd as he is usually with his family. He is tall at about six two with blue eyes a little silver through his brown hair. He is a good-looking man for his age. My guess would be the late forties or early fifties. His wife's eyes are brown much like his daughter’s, and she seems to be about the same age as her husband. I think he is either home with business or dropped off in town elsewhere.

The town is friendly and receptive to the family, but it is sad how they always talk about them behind their backs all because of their strange behavior and about how odd they seem. In my opinion, they don’t seem strange at all just very nice people not understood.

As for me, I am fascinated with them, although I don’t dare say anything out loud to my friends about it. If Jason’s actions are any indication, so I keep my thoughts to myself.

I have defended the family once in grade school, and it did not end too well. I felt all gained upon so to keep my friends happy I never spoke of the family again. I would study them when my friends are not watching, and I did feel bad for the daughter who had no friends and sat all the time by herself.

Despite how the town is to the family they always are friendly when you speak to them, yet most of the time you get the feeling they only want their solitude.

That is the impression one gets from them, Private.

“I can’t help but wonder what they do here every day,” Sara whispered in my ear placing the loose piece of her short stray blonde hair behind her ear.

I just shrugged my shoulders at her. Pretending not to care.

I looked down at the book in my hands pretending to read, but secretly I was looking up with my eyes as the mother and daughter now walked past us and into the building.

There is just something about them that I can’t help but feel a connection with.

I sighed and continued to reread the book.

Sara was already engrossed in her book, seemingly forgetting about the family, which was all right with me.

Ten minutes later I heard a car pulling into the lot, thinking it could be Amanda and Jason deciding to take his car. I looked up to see a new black Acura pull into the parking lot.

It was not the car I was noticing though; it was the driver as he got out. I saw he was tall about six feet or taller, with black hair, and when he glanced my direction, his eyes were a pale gray. He wore light blue jeans and a black tee shirt. I leaned towards Sara and whispered, “Who is that?”

She looked up and turned her head the direction I was looking as she whispered back, “That’s Galen.”

“Who?” I asked still not taking my eyes off him as he slowly walked across the parking lot. He is very handsome, and for some reason, I was shaking inside to my very core. Why is that?

“Galen, he is the older son of the Weston Family. Didn’t you know?” She looked at me. “Rayna, I am surprised. I saw him a week ago walking into the library with his family.” She thought a moment and said, “Oh, that’s right, that is the day you were helping your mom at the restaurant.”

She giggled nudging me slightly, “You should see the look on your face!”

I had not realized I was staring mouth gaped open; I snapped my mouth shut right before he walked passed and glanced my way sending chills down my spine.

It was about then that Jason and Amanda walked up to us, I was still watching Galen as he opened the door and entered in. Amanda is a good friend but usually quite nosey about other people's business and love to gossip. If you want a secret getting out just tell her and it will be all over town. She has wavy medium-length light brown hair and light brown eyes. Jason is average looking with dirty blond hair and green eyes he is about five-ten and usually outgoing and fun to hang around.

“Is that the other family member? I heard he moved back with his family.” Amanda asked as she sat next to me.

“Yep, that is him,” Sara answered nudging me. “I think Rayna likes him.” She added with a teasing tone. “And who wouldn’t, he is gorgeous!” She said grinning at me.

“I do not. I don’t even know the guy.” I defended myself saying, I got fidgety then jumped up. “Are we going to walk to the park or what?” I turned towards my friends.

“You know I’m only teasing Rayna. Come on guys lets go.” Sara stood up ready to go.

Jason was quiet, too quiet, which is not like him at all. “Jay, is anything wrong?” I asked him as we were walking out of the parking lot.

He only shook his head no, but I know when something was bugging him. And something was bugging him.

The four of us were close as we grew up in this small town of Camden, Arizona. It is up in the North, Eastern part of the state where we get snow in the winter months and live among the tall pine trees.

How close my friends and I are, I feel sometimes we can just about read each other’s emotions and minds, and I am sure I am not the only one who is noticing Jason's mood now.

I leaned toward Amanda and whispered in her ear, “Has he been like this since he picked you up?”

“No,” she whispered back, “Only since we got to the library.”

Now that perplexes me. What could have happened since Amanda’s house to the library?

We decided to detour to the convenience store to grab something to drink before heading up to the park.

It was a little out of the way since the park was up from the library, but it was what we always enjoyed doing.

The town of Camden is small with no traffic lights only stop signs. We have one main road which has two convenience stores with fuel stations, three restaurants my mom owns one of them. A grocery store and small movie theater and the library and few other small businesses. We also have a fairground which once a year holds a small fair.

The town's pride and joy are the high school, Camden High, the home of the Coyotes. I am a junior there. Even though there are only about five to six hundred students that attend from surrounding areas.

Sara and Amanda are in the same grade as I am, except for Jason, he is a senior.

We got to the store and went over to the soda fountain and as I reached for a cup a hand reached for the cup at the same time.

I looked up, and intense gray eyes bore into my light honey-brown ones. I could swear I felt electricity shoot through my body.

As I stood there, my hand extended towards the cup, he took the cup out of the dispenser and placed the cup into my hand. As our fingers touched; I now know I felt the electricity.

Then he smiled at me before taking another cup and went to get ice and his drink.

I felt frozen standing there staring at him when suddenly I was about knocked off balance from Amanda nudging me to get my attention.

I glanced at her, and she began to give me a smirky grin.

I shook my head and went to fill my cup with ice then filled it with soda.

After paying we all headed back in the direction of the park.

It was a Saturday morning, and the leaves on the trees were beginning to change colors. Autumn is my favorite time of the season with all those colors around us drifting softly down and landing like a colorful blanket on the ground.

A few leaves were floating down around us now as the wind blew softly. Once at the park, we walked over to the table where we like to sit.

Amanda and I sat on top of the table, and Sara and Jay sat on the benches.

Amanda kept staring at me with a Cheshire cat grin on her face.

“What?” I asked sounding annoyed.

“I think you're right, Sara.” She said looking at me.

“I’m right about what?” Sara answered back.

“Rayna likes Galen. You missed the Spark that shot between them at the store and the blush that crossed Rayna's cheeks.”

She took a sip of her drink then the grin continued.

“There was not, and I did not,” I said defending myself even though I did feel the spark, only I won’t admit it.

“Yes, there was. You should have seen how you blushed. Aaand...” She held out the last word, “I think he may like you too. After all, He didn’t help us with cups.” She added smugly.

I rolled my eyes, “He was probably just being nice. After all, he and I were reaching for the same cup at the same time. That doesn’t mean anything.”

“Yeah, don’t go making an issue over, something you know nothing about, Mandy.” Jay snapped speaking for the first time.

“Geez; what’s wrong with you?” Amanda snapped back at him.

“Oh, just forget it.” He said as he stood. “I’m heading home.”

“Oh, come now, don’t be like that?” Sara was trying to be peacemaker again.

“Yeah Jay, please stay?” I added, he looked at me and seemed to want to say something but changed his mind.

“Alright,” He said sitting back down and adding,

“We do plan to go riding, today right? Mr. Big needs a good work out. He is getting too lazy these days.”

We try to give our horses as much exercise as possible before the cold weather.

Amanda does not own a horse, so my mom lets her ride hers, a line back dun named Star. I own a black and white paint named Eazy.

Mr. Big is a bay at sixteen hands, a big horse and why Jay called him Mr. Big.

Sara owns an Arabian sorrel called Cinnamon.

Riding is our fun thing to do in this small town or going to the movie theater to see a movie. We also enjoy driving twenty miles to Show Low as there is plenty to do there.

Living in this small town is not bad, it is home and always has been.

“Okay,” I said as I jumped off the table. “Should we all meet at my house or...” I stopped in mid-sentence, and the others turned to look at what caught my attention.

It was Galen standing near the parking lot with his sister talking together under a tree near his car.

I couldn’t help but noticed how Galen kept glancing in my direction. I frowned as his sister now began looking over at me as if I were the subject of their conversation.

“Rayna, come on, let’s go.” Jay was saying to me a little harshly as he took my arm and begun to lead me away while giving the brother and sister a nasty look.

As we started to walk away, I glanced back over my shoulder and noticed they were still watching me.

A shiver went down my spine. I’m not sure if what I felt is a good shiver or a bad one. After all these years and now they seem to be taking an interest in me for the first time. The question now is why?

I am not like them; I don’t dress like them-well the girl at least, as the boy Galen he was dressed normal. But, I cannot help feeling a connection in some weird way.

I also can’t help but wonder where Galen had been all these years. And why he had not grown up with his own family? I have seen his family around most all my life and not once had I known much about him, except that he was living with a relative elsewhere.

They are such a strange family and so secretive and quiet. It’s a wonder anyone ever heard of the son who mysteriously appears out of nowhere. But, this is a small town that likes gossip after all.

We arrived at my house, and we agreed we would meet at the fairgrounds. Jay and Sara still need to get their horses so; they went on ahead as Amanda stayed behind with me to help me saddle up the horses.

The fairground our favorite place to ride as it has spots best for riding.

There are jumps around the outside of the main arena that I enjoy doing as I prefer to ride English and Eazy is beautiful at jumping.

As we were saddling and joking with each other, my mother came into the barn which surprised me, because she was always at the diner at this hour.

“Hi Mom, why are you not at the restaurant?” I asked as she came over to me. My mother is a single mother who is about the same height as me and petite. She has long auburn red hair that she keeps up in a bun or other times in a fancy decorative braid. She wears bangs which give her a younger appearance even though she is in her late forties and acts quite young. My dad died when I was very young, so I have never gotten to know him. My mother has hazel-green eyes, so I have always wondered where I got my brown eyes? Must be from my dad.

“Charlene is keeping an eye on things for me.” She reached up to pet Star. “Rayna, could we speak in the house, please? It is important.”

“Of course, mom, but we were on our way to the grounds to meet the others.”

“I understand that, but it is important.”

She turned to Amanda, “This won’t take long Amanda, keep the horse's company, will you?”

“Of course, Mrs. Karver.”

Walking through the back door and into the kitchen, I continued to follow my mom.

She led me down the short hall and into the living room where I stopped short. There in my living room was the Weston family, the dad included. How did Galen and his sister get here so fast?

“Mom, what’s going on?” I asked as I looked at each member.

“Honey you may want to sit down.”

I slowly walked to the closest chair and sank down on to the cushions, thoroughly confused.

“This may be difficult to hear, but It is time you need to know the truth about your father; and us.” She began, “I had planned to wait until you turned eighteen but under the circumstances of recent events. I need to tell you now.”

My mom took a deep breath before she continued. Are those tears welling up in her eyes? “Honey, up until now, your father was alive.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but she stopped me by holding up her hand.

“I know you have questions. They will just have to wait. You need to know who you are.” Taking a shaky breath, she continued while walking and pacing the floor in front of me, “And I know this will be hard to believe but...” She turned to face me. “Your father is… I mean was, of royal blood. A King to be exact.”

I frowned and looked down at my lap confused. “A King, of what country?” I asked looking back up at my mother.

“Not country Rayna.” She spoke softly looking over at the Weston family then back at me.

“If not a country, then where?” I was perplexed now.

“I need to introduce you properly to the Weston family” She indicated the family, “They are of high nobility on our homeworld.”

“Our… homeworld?!” I gasped.

“Yes, our world, your father was the King of it. And I am Queen. Our world is called Valaisha. Luziann,” She indicated the mother, so that is her name. “Bryden, Kieran and Galen, came in town today to deliver the bad news and to inform me that circumstances have changed. Galen has been staying with your father when he was murdered…” She looked over at Galen.

“What? No! You told me my father died when I was little! It’s what you led me to believe because if what you say is true that he was a King, that would mean...” I couldn’t finish.

“Yes, you are born a royal you are the Royal Princess Rayana Lynnae Karver of Valaisha.” She knelt in front of me by the chair. “We had no choice, but to raise you here on this world; hidden and safe along with me. Your father and I agreed to let you believe he died. It was to protect all of us. Oh, honey, your father is,” She paused swallowing, looking sad, “Was very proud of who you have become. I always kept him informed with reports, pictures even videos through the Weston’s.”

She fought back her tears, “I am so sorry I lead you to believe he had died I wish things had been different and you could have known him. Only he had a Kingdom he had to rule and make safe that one day you and I could return. I hope you can forgive me.”

She reached a hand towards me. I pretended not to see it, and she withdrew it.

“How was he killed?” I asked in a whisper trying to absorb all the information.

“Valaisha has this enemy, on Kaihu another world. The evil ruler Lucas Quentin, he is against the union and peace of our worlds.” She sounded emotional now. “We have a sister world Cainya and the two worlds together in unity will become a greater threat to Kaihu. The Ruler will do all he can to prevent the union.”

A single tear rolled down my mom’s cheek.

“A spy from Kaihu and thought to be a trusted friend to your father entered the court where your father was dining with a few diplomats along with Galen. Your dad stood to greet his friend, then in front of his guests, was shot and murdered. Galen here,” She indicated him as he stood there watching me for my reaction to all this. “In all the chaos was able to escape and get through the gateway portal and make it here to tell us.”

“Wait, what?” I said shaking my head, “Gateway? What, gateway? And what union?”

“A gateway that passes between the worlds to this one; each world has hidden portals, and each gateway has guardians. The Weston’s are the guardians of the one near here. Not only are they guardians, but they are also our protectors.” She looked me in the eyes when she added, “Rayna, this cannot be repeated...not even to your friends. Do you understand?”

I nodded my head slowly. All of what was said seems so unbelievable. “What Union?” I asked again sounding a little choked up. It was now beginning to make sense.

I was starting to understand the connection I was having with the Weston family. We are of the same world.

I looked up at each one as they looked over at me, then my gaze lingered on Galen.

Is that sorrow and compassion I see in his eyes?

My mother answered, “The union is to take place through a ceremony to connect the worlds and brings peace.” I nodded feeling there was more to this union thing that she was keeping from me, but I didn’t pursue it further, as this news was already too much for me to take in. I looked back at Galen, and he had not stopped watching me. Strange what is it about him? The way he was staring at me was almost like passion. I frowned feeling confused and noticed he gave me a slight sideways grin. I tore my eyes away saying, “Amanda is waiting in the barn for me.” I just wanted to get away for now.

“Of course,” My mother said with emotion. “You can go now.”

I got up and left quickly out the door.