Hera's Doom

Chapter 1

Like so many, I was chosen.

I didn’t want to be chosen for this grand destiny and if you might think or even have suspicions’ that you too might be chosen, I recommend forgetting you ever grabbed this book off the bookshelf.

Being a child of God is dangerous and scary at times. Many want you dead when they learn the Lord’s blood runs through your veins. Your friends of little or no faith will turn on you at the drop of a hat. There’s a chance your family will turn on you as well!

It was like they could sense who I was, a sense that my soul had a connection that they could never understand!

My name is Hera Jackson.

Or at least it was in my first life!

I was fifteen years old when I discovered I was chosen.

The day I met Jess!

I am your typical nerd, dork, geek, and loser.

I tripped and dropped things almost constantly and always mocked by everyone that looked at me.

Every once in a while I’d make a friend but they’d either leave or turn on me!

So to answer your question! Yes, I was miserable.

I had no one and wondered if this was what a relationship was then maybe I didn’t need that pain that I felt every time I tried to get close to someone.

My story began on a hot day, when the waves of the vast blue ocean rocked the ship, as we sailed through its seas, on the Arcadian Mayflower, heading to a new undiscovered land.

I stood by the railing, peering out onto the wide ocean and open blue sky, enjoying the journey. I never got to go out with my family. So it was a glorious change for me! I had my bag stuffed full of books from fairy tales to educational books.

My siblings Aarron and Bella were there too, still seeing me as the nerd I was, but I personally think Aarron’s a not much better, although his only problem is he enjoys taking things that are not his, and having a bad wisecrack every time a word is spoken.

And as for Bella, it was all about her and her beauty. My sister had purple wavy hair which sometimes appears to be multi color in a certain light. She has pink-red eyes and pale skin. She has a wide variety of different dresses, all of which reflect her personality, which is usually spirited, quick-witted and compassionate nature. While in Arcadia she is considered by many to be very beautiful and attracts the attention of numerous men.

We had been aboard the ship for almost forty hours, and it had just cooled off some. I guess we hit a jet stream because it was windy.

I watched the seagulls fly overhead in the sky, flapping their wings and squawking as they went over.

Father stood by the captain of the ship, discussing the ship and supplies. And as usual, my mother was at his side.

My mother, Ursa Jackson was a strong and pragmatic leader who was concerned about the well-being of her kingdom. She always wore her black hair up in a bun, to show the world her brown graceful eyes. My mother wore various dresses like Bella often to be professional of her duties as Countess and leader of Arcadia.

It would be only if we did something that was un- avoidable did my mother ever leave the King’s side. But as we got older, the need to run over and fix all of our problems ceased. My mother had given birth to Bella, Aarron and then me.

I turned my attention from my parents and glanced around for my siblings when I suddenly had to put my hands over my ears. I turned to where I heard my sister, to see Aarron pointing and laughing at Bella.

“I need a new gown NOW!” She bellowed.

Aarron laughed at her and pointed coldly.

“AH,” He said. “You got pooped on!” Aarron cracked up.

Bella stormed my way before glaring at me!

“What are you looking at?” She hissed, glaring at me coldly.

“Nothing,” I squeaked out.

Aarron walked up behind her.

“Oh, leave her alone.” He snapped at Bella. “She was just wondering why you screamed like the baby you are.”

Bella turned and glared at him as if he were a plague.

“She might as well be asking why the sky is blue!” Bella hissed coldly.

“But I already know why the sky is blue.” I pointed out, getting their attention. “When light from the sun enters our atmosphere it collides with molecules in the air. The blue part of the light gets scattered more than the other parts during these collisions and thus makes the sky appear blue.”

Bella glared at me!

“That was a sarcastic statement!” Bella yelled. “You don’t answer it!”

I lowered my head as she stormed off! Demanding for a new gown! Aarron followed after her to annoy her some more. Aarron was never mean to me very much but he wasn’t really friends with me either. He was more like a nice classmate that wants everyone but Bella to get along.

I turned my head away from them and stared at the water once more, sunlight twinkled off the water and seemed to make the water sparkle.

I was dying to see this new land! I kept wondering what it would be like, hearing a wolf cry out to the moon or see an eagle fly overhead.

Father speculated that we’d reach land by nightfall, so I waited with a jittery mood.

However, as sunset came upon us, no land was in sight. We ended up having dinner out on the deck along with the crew and commander. I didn’t mind at all, having beef soup in tiny green bowls.

I was thrilled to be treated as equals! Thrilled to be somewhere new doing things I’ve never done before.

I’d say my only complaint was the same complaint I always have.

Bella!

“I’m not eating this slop!” Bella snapped.

I turned to face her.

“It’s not slop!” I told her. “Slop is a term that means uneatable or gross slim! This is soup, made up of meat and vegetables.”

Bella glared at me, indicating for me to shut up!

I shifted my attention to the commander of the ship, who sat in his own wooden chair, by my father.

The commander was named Slate! He wore a black suit like a Southerner, but he was bossy and stubborn to his crew members. Slate had fuzzy brown hair to match his eyes; I noticed he also had a scar on his face, going down his right eye.

He noticed I was staring at him.

He smiled and touched the scar.

“I got this by dealing with the Arcadian Savages!”

“The new world has Arcadian Natives?” I asked, getting to my feet.

With a very annoyed expression, Bella grabbed my dress and pulled me down to my seat once more.

“Yes,” My father said. “And you are not to interact with them… and that goes for all of you.”

My father, King Ezra was the King of Arcadia. He was seen as an immutable ruler, with his laws upholding duty and tradition while defying the use of those he didn’t understand. All those who disagreed with him or those who had beliefs he did not approve of were suspected of witchcraft and were killed under his command.

I never agreed with his tactics but I never showed I disagreed.

“From what I heard, the Natives only go after someone who harms them or goes into their villages without permission,” I said.

“A lie.” Slate said. “The savages are vile creatures, they steal anything they want and kill anyone they want. Just for the joy of killing.”

“That doesn’t seem correct!” I then said aloud.

“That’s because all you do is read fairy tales.” My father replied, before getting to his feet. “Commander Slate and I have experience with these beasts and know far more than words on a page. And from now on, I want you to obey Slate when he speaks, understood.”

My eyes shifted to Slate.

I nodded, but not by respect out of fear.

It was dawn the next morning before the land was spotted. I remember being woken up by one of the crew members yelling. “Land Ahead!”

I sprang out of the small mat I was sleeping in and ran out onto the deck, rousting Bella and my mother.

I was so excited however, I forgot to dress up in the royal gowns I am entitled to wear. I ran out onto the deck, wearing nothing but a large white t-shirt and shorts.

I watched the crew members, lowering and tying down sails.

Commander Slate steered the ship as the crew members rushed around unaware of me running past them and up to the front of the ship. Fog surrounded the ship as a cold wind blew, flapping my hair like a flag.

The fog cleared and I saw this new land and how large it was.

My eyes widened, seeing the trees and coast coming closer to view. My smile only got bigger before I heard a voice getting my attention.

“Oh, my God!”

I turned around to see my mother and the rest of my family standing behind me along with Aarron and Bella.

“Oh, Hera!” My mother said.

“What?” I asked before looking down at my night clothes. “Oh, I see!”

Aarron had his hands over his eyes, refusing to look at me.

Everyone stared at me but I was not embarrassed or even concerned.

“So when do we dock?”

A half hour later, while I got dressed my mother was angry at me, while Bella teased me. Mother brushed my hair, telling me that I could have disgraced the family if I was wearing anything less.

I didn’t reply, I just let her complain. That way she gets it out of her system and calms down faster. Just once though, I’d like to be told that everyone makes mistakes and slips. But I never hear those words from my family. I hear. “Do better.” Or “Do not let it happen again.”

After I was placed in a dark green gown, with matching green slippers and white powder on my face I was allowed on the deck after the ship docked onto that wonderful land.

It was a paradise untouched by man, it was a world blessed with color and lived in peace.

We softly treaded the sand below our feet, while enjoying the calm and clear morning. The sun shone brightly down over the green trees and long grasses as they bowed and danced in the wind. Although the land went on for miles, my family and the ship’s crew set up tents like it was a picnic.

My father ordered us to stay out of the woods so Aarron splashed Bella, who demanded he stopped.

I waited until my parents weren’t paying attention to me, which honestly didn’t take long. Before I stood up from the large rock I sat on and stepped a few inches in the tree belt, the trees went on for miles. The sounds of this isolated world were actually loud from buzzing bugs going from flower to flower, to chirping birds. The trees provided a natural barrier, from baby trees to very old ones. Their trunks ranged from dark brown to a lighter tone. They all rose so high in the sky, creating a canopy that provided a root of some sorts for the woodland.

I smiled, seeing the squirrel’s race from branch to branch, undaunted by the height.

It was the first time I had ever been in a forest, I had only read stories and had to use my imagination. So I was blown away by all the colors and energy. And at that point, I didn’t care if my parents found me.

I followed a path that cut through the woods, before glancing back one last time at the blue ocean that sat in the distance, I could hear Bella yelling at Aarron still. I had no desire to be a part of that, and I never knew that one step into these exotic would change everything.

I didn’t know I was being watched and seen for the sad girl I was. I never felt the presence that watched me through the trees, the presence that knew I loved to smell the inside of old books, spend hours at the library and used to pull a red wagon home every week, crammed full of books. It knew things I never told a soul, it also saw how my family was wrapped up in their silly lives, not seeing me for who I was. And what was the oddest thing, was the fact it believed I deserved better.

I sat alone in the meadow staring at all the pretty flowers and admiring them. So many colors and shapes, it was hard not to notice.

Like I said before I was used to being alone, it was being noticed is what bothered me.

It was twenty minutes later when I heard a rustling behind me! I glanced up from the flower meadow I found a few moments before, to see an Apple roll out of the bushes a few feet away.

I stood up to then see a small Native boy come out of the bushes after the apple. He had dark hair and tan skin, just like the Natives I read about. He even had the feathers and deer skinned shorts.

He looked up and stared at me for a moment.

He then waved at me, smiling big and bright.

I waved back! Unsure what to do!

It was then I heard more movement coming from the trees and a tall man, who did not have the appearances of a Native stepped out.

At that moment I didn’t know who he was! I didn’t know he was Jess!

Jess was tall about six feet, had a small tan with his skin complexion, darker eyes, and a dark hair color.

He wore leather skinned clothing like the Natives wore, with feathers and beads of many colors.

He looked to the Native boy with a strange yet loving smile.

“Apple,” The boy said as if the apple was a treasure.

The man got down on his knees in front of the boy.

“Wow,” He said to the boy. “That is a beautiful apple. Do you know what; I bet your mom would love this for her apple pies.”

The boy’s smile got so large; it was like he couldn’t smile any bigger.

The Native boy ran off in the trees, shouting out to his mom.

I thought that was a sweet moment.

I knew my parents wouldn’t care about an apple, they’d tell me to give to a servant or something.

It was then the man noticed me.

“Hello,” He said to me, as he got to his feet and dusted himself off. “I did not see you there.”

That’s not a surprise! I rarely ever get noticed.

Heck, I was shocked he noticed me at all!

“Are you friends with the Natives?” I asked him, “Because you don’t look like a Native.”

“They’re more like a family to me.” He told me.

“So they don’t care that you don’t look like them?” I asked him.

I bet I sounded insulting but every word my father pounded into my head was still there. I was stunned he did not take offense to me.

He just smiled as if what I said was humorous.

“Some Native tribes might be.” He said calmly. “But the Wolf Pack Tribe is very close to me.”

I thought a moment.

“Where did you live before the Natives?” I asked him.

He smiled before walking up to me and sitting down in the meadow.

“I traveled a lot.” He said in a kind tone. It was a tone I never heard before.

“So you must have been to a lot of places on Arcadia?” I then asked him. “Like Nova?”

“Nova?” He asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “It’s my home town. My family is taking a trip to see this new land.”

“No,” He claimed. “I don’t believe I’ve been there yet. I’ve been to Naba.”

“I’ve been there once,” I admitted. “My father was holding a fundraiser there,”

“Was it fun?”

“They are never fun,” I said. “I darted off when no one was looking and went to the library across the street.”

His eye brows went up.

“I bet you got in trouble.” He said with a smirk as if he was picturing me sneaking away from the fundraiser and running across the street into a massive library, which is basically what happened.

“No,” I told him. “They didn’t notice me.”

The moment became silent.

“Do you have any family on the island?” I asked him.

“No, no physical descendants.” He said.

“Physical descendants?!” I asked.

What a strange choice of words? I thought.

“Yeah, that’s right.” I have a lot of family members but they’re scattered right now.”

“Why?” I asked him. “Aren’t families supposed to be together like in books?”

He nodded.

“Yeah, but our work always comes first.” He then said.

I knew how that felt.

“Sounds like my father’s work,” I told him. “My mother said I had to keep out of trouble. We had my dad’s political career to think about. So I am a rich child who got anything I wanted ... as long as I behaved and sat still, looking pretty and didn’t speak unless spoken to. A typical family, I guess.”

Watching his face soften was like, seeing he cared and knew things I didn’t.

“You don’t seem too happy about it?” He then said.

I stared at him for a long moment.

“Well,” I said in an annoyed tone. “I’ve read several books on how families and even though they may start badly at the beginning they get loving at the end of the story, most of the time.”

“I’m sure your family cares about you.” He tried to reassure me but I thought about it long and hard for years and no one had done much of anything to show me the love I’ve read about.

Maybe that only existed in books.

“What’s your name?” He asked me.

It took a moment before I responded.

“Hera,” I said.”And Yours?”

He smiled and glanced around the woods for a moment.

“Jess,” He said to me.

Before I could ask another question, I heard another voice speak out.

“Princess!”

“I turned around to see Commander Slate walking up the path toward me. “What are you doing here alone?”

“I was exploring a bit,” I replied. “And I’m not alone…”

I turned to see Jess was gone.

I was stunned!

Where did he go? I thought. He couldn’t leave so quietly, could he?

“What if the savages spotted you.” Slate snapped coldly. “They would have ripped you apart.”

“But I didn’t go that far,” I said softly. “A-And I stayed on the path, so I could find my way-“

“A path made by savages!” He snapped, cutting me off.

It was then, Slate saw the young boy, who returned also looking for Jess.

“A Savage!” He said aloud.

I glanced at the boy, who walked up to me still smiling.

My eyes looked from Slate to the boy.

Slate pulled out his sword.

“W-What are you doing?” I asked him.

“Removing the savage before more show up.” Slate snapped at me.

I didn’t know why but I felt a hint of courage take over me! I stepped between Slate and the boy, holding my arms so Slate couldn’t dart around me.

He stared at me, his eyes narrowing at me.

“… Move!” Slate warned me. But I refused to move. “You’re even weaker than I thought. Get out of the way before I charge you with treason, girl, you will be an enemy of this kingdom, an enemy of your king!!”

I hesitated but only for a moment.

“I will not see him executed.”

“Then you are disobeying your father and all he stands for!” Slate told me. “You think it’s right to conspire with our enemies against our kingdom?”

“How can this child be your enemy? He’s just a boy?!” I said firmly. “We came to him.”

“He’s a Savage!”

“He’s a Native!” I corrected. “And that shouldn’t be a crime!”

“His kind would see us dead and this kingdom in anarchy and you would help them.”

I didn’t reply!

The look in Slates eyes was beyond mad. It was evil.

He wouldn’t hurt me, would he? I thought.

Slate lunged at me, with his sword suddenly drawn.

With a yelp, I dodged and felt the whisk of the blade next to my ear.

Slate spun toward me with a murderous look in his eyes.

My knees were jelly. My hands were shaking so bad I almost ran away, leaving the Native boy to his doom.

“If you are not with this kingdom then you deserve death just as they do.” With that Slate raised his sword high. Fear went through my body and out of my soul and heart, I then felt numbness enter into my mind when I looked away and closed my eyes, out of flinching from the thought of being hit with the blade.

I heard his sword hit something before he was thrown backward into a tree.

He moaned for a moment and then looked up at me.

Thunder boomed overhead, getting my attention.

I then grabbed the boy in my arms and ran back through the woods off the path. The more I ran, the hotter I got and the more my slippers hurt my feet. Even when I was sure I lost Slate I kept running.

I ran until my tired knees buckled and I tripped, sliding across the grass and dirt. I let go of the boy when I stopped moving.

I laid there as the boy stood up and walked up to me, he looked unhurt and unscathed. But my heart pounded so much, it burned inside of me.

I panted for a long while before I finally sat up on my bottom. My dress was ripped and covered in dirt as my hair was damp with sweat.

I looked around, growing nervous and more scared. The path was gone and I had no idea where I was!

What would my father say when Slate tells him I committed treason!

He wouldn’t believe him! Would he?

The young boy watched me pace back and forth, and he must have known I was terrified, for he offered me his apple.

It was then I heard footsteps approach from behind!

I grabbed the boys hand and led him away before I turned around and gasped. A full-grown Native stepped out from the tree in front of me.

My body shook in terror!

My mind only could scream for me to run, but my body refused to respond. I just stood there, unable to move or flee like I wished.

It was then we all heard footsteps coming closer, I knew it was Slate.

The grown Native reached out and grabbed me, pulling me close to him before placing his hand over my mouth. I struggled to break free and run but he was strong.

I was trapped…