The Amulet

The Amulet

(Custodian Novel #1)

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2009 by Alison Pensy

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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, events, or locales is entirely
coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may
be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without
written permission from the author.

Published by Laxsaro Publishing, Publishing
on Smashwords / September 2009

ISBN:
978-0-9825438-1-8

I would like to say a big thank you to the
following people:

First and foremost to my soul mate, your
unfailing love and support are beyond measure.

Andi and Mary Jo, who listened to my
hare-brained ideas for stories, and still read the book.

To Marisa Wagner who edited this version for
me. Thank you.

To all of my beta-readers, your feedback and
support was invaluable.

Jen, your library of books helped
tremendously. And last but not least to Jocelyn, who may just show
me her wings one day.

CHAPTER ONE

This is no ordinary fairy-tale, but I shall
start it just the same…

Once upon a time, eleven years ago to be
precise, in a land, oh, just around the corner, lived a young girl
called Faedra. Her mother and father doted on her, and at the
tender age of just six years old, she considered herself to be the
luckiest little girl alive. That was until her world, suddenly and
without warning, came crashing down around her…

University Hospital, Norwich, England

Faedra sat in the cushioned hospital chair
that was positioned in the hallway just outside the room her mother
occupied. She could hear the voices inside the room behind the
closed door. One of them she recognized. It was the voice of her
father, sounding much more anxious than usual, talking with growing
concern to whom she assumed was the doctor. The other voice sounded
like it was trying to remain calm, but she could sense bewilderment
was bubbling just below the surface.

Her father, Henry, had told her to sit for a
moment while he talked to the doctor. She was trying hard to block
out the voices by concentrating on her feet that were swinging
nonchalantly below her, but try as she might, she could still hear
every word they said.

“There must be something you can do?” Henry
pleaded.

“I’m so terribly sorry, Mr. Bennett, but we
have never seen anything like this before,” replied the doctor.

“Is there a cure?”

The doctor’s voice rang heavily with
disappointment. “I wish I could tell you there was, but we have
tried everything we know and her organs are still shutting
down.”

“Well, try something else!” Henry raised his
voice in frustration. “I can’t lose my wife, I just… can’t.” His
voice cracked.

“Henry?” Faedra’s mother, Lillith
whispered.

“I woke you sweetheart, I’m sorry. What do
you need?”

“Don’t be angry with the doctors, Henry. It’s
not their fault.”

“But there has to be something more they can
do…” he broke off.

“Henry,” she paused. “I need to see
Faedra.”

Faedra’s head snapped to attention at the
mention of her name and her feet grew still. She wanted to jump off
the chair and run to her mother’s side that instant, but knew that
she should not have been listening to them in the first place. So
she waited patiently until she was called. After what seemed like
an eternity in Faedra’s undeveloped mind, the door clicked open and
her father stood in front of her and forced a smile.

She looked up at her father and examined his
features. The kind brown eyes that she loved so much looked back at
her in agony. She could read the pain on his face even though she
knew he was trying so very hard to hide it from her. At that moment
she realized, with much sadness, that her mother was not going to
be with them for very much longer.

Her father was tall, standing before her and
he looked tired, exhausted, in fact. His dark blonde hair looked
unkempt, and his usually clean-shaven profile was half covered in a
dark fuzzy overgrowth. Henry hadn’t thought shaving was important
since Lillith had fallen ill. He held out his hand for her.

“Mummy is asking for you, Princess.”

Faedra took hold of her father’s offered hand
and slid herself down off the chair. His hand felt shaky, something
she had not experienced whilst holding her daddy’s hand before. It
was always so strong, so sure. A sinking feeling grew in Faedra’s
stomach, and her heart started to quicken. She stuck closely to her
father’s side as he walked her into her mother’s hospital room.

Lillith lay motionless in the big mechanical
bed that was tilted up at the back enabling her to sit up. Faedra
glanced at all the different kinds of monitors, wires, and tubes
that were hooked up to her mother. She then focused on her mother’s
face to try and escape the fear those things were instilling in
her. As she reached the bed, Lillith held out her hand and Faedra
took it as her father simultaneously dropped the hand he was
holding.

“Faedra, my darling girl,” Lillith cooed.
“Now you need to be strong for Mummy and Daddy, okay?”

“Okay, Mummy,” Faedra whispered.

“I have something for you,” she looked up at
her husband. “Henry, could you please pass me that bag?” She
pointed to a small gift bag sitting on the table across the
room.

“Now, this is a very special gift and you
must promise me that you will treasure it always,” she told Faedra
as she handed her the bag.

Faedra’s little hands could not open the box
inside the bag quick enough, but after a few moments, she had
pulled the wrapper off and lifted the gift from its box with care.
Her eyes grew wide with wonder as she stared at her present.

It was a figurine, standing about eight
inches tall. A beautiful fairy was sitting atop a majestic black
horse. The fairy had long, red hair and silver wings flecked with
emerald green that stretched proudly out behind her. She was
wearing a blue skirt from which tiny bells hung. The horse was
black as midnight and regal in stature. It had a long thick mane
and tail both adorned with silver stars.

“Oh, Mummy, she’s so pretty. What is her
name?”

“Her name is Arianne. I know how much you
love horses and you know how much I love fairies, so I thought this
gift was perfect. It will always remind you of me. You’ll keep her
safe for me, won’t you?”

“I promise, Mummy. I will look after her
always.”

Lillith bent forward to kiss her daughter on
the forehead. Tears welled up in her eyes. She looked up at her
husband and mouthed for him to take Faedra away. At that moment,
Henry knew he was losing his wife. He swallowed hard, biting back
the tears that were searing behind his eyes as he took hold of his
daughter’s hand once more.

“Mummy needs to sleep now, darling,” Lillith
whispered, knowing it would be the last time she saw her
daughter.

“Okay, Mummy. I love you.”

“I love you, too, darling. Forever and
ever.”

Court of the Light Fae, The Land of Azran

The Guardian strode with purpose through the
magnificent double oak doors that led him into the Great Hall of
the king who reigned over the Light Fae in the Land of Azran. The
sword that hung from his waist swung with grace from side to side
with the momentum of his footsteps. He ran a hand through his sleek
blonde hair and looked around.

This hall never ceases to make me feel
humble
, he thought.

The ceiling towered many stories above him,
held up on either side by imposing stone pillars. The pillars were
intricately carved with the figures of various royalty and nobility
that had ruled this land throughout the ages. Stained glass windows
that stretched from half way up the walls to high above depicted
many scenes of nature from several different realms, including The
World of Men. The reason for those scenes was because the fae
controlled nature. In fact, it was their responsibility to make
sure that nature in all realms continued to thrive and to sustain
the inhabitants within them.

His eyes were diverted to the floating
chandeliers that lit the hall from above. The chandeliers followed
the movements of whoever occupied the cavernous room, lighting the
way for that person, or persons, wherever they should be within its
walls. The candles flickering behind the crystals, created dancing
sparkles along the walls and the floor.

The Guardian smiled at the fae magic of the
light that showered him from above and then brought his focus back
to the unpleasant task at hand. He stepped up his pace for the
remainder of the way down the long stone floor leading up to the
throne where the king was seated.

The king, usually so stoic in his demeanor,
sat fidgeting with his robes as he waited impatiently for the
Guardian to reach him. Coming to a halt at the foot of the steps
upon which the thrones sat, the Guardian got down on one knee and
bowed his head.

“Is it true?” the king questioned
abruptly.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the Guardian replied,
rising when the king requested he do so with a gesture of his hand.
He watched as the king’s eyes filled with sadness.

“When?”

“Not more than one hour prior, Your
Majesty.”

“And the amulet?”

“Lillith passed the amulet to Faedra before
she died, Your Majesty.”

“The child is but six years of age,” the king
stated with concern.

The Guardian could see the king’s face tense
with worry and attempted to calm him.

“Sire, she is the next legitimate Custodian.
Lillith hid it within the figurine of a fairy.”

“Did she, indeed?” the king smiled. “I did
always admire her resourcefulness.”

“Yes, Sire.”

“Do you have any further information
regarding why Lillith was on her way to see me when she was
intercepted?”

The Guardian hung his head. He was assigned
as Lillith’s guardian, but she had sent him on an errand. The next
thing he knew, redcaps had attacked her on her way to the portal,
and he had reached her too late.

“No, Your Majesty. Nothing new has presented
itself thus far.”

“You know what you must do now.” It was more
of a statement than a question.

The Guardian’s eyes shone with confusion as
he looked at the king.

“But, Your Majesty, I have failed both you
and Lillith.”

“Guardian, you are young. This was your first
assignment in the World of Men. I paired you with Lillith because
she had much to teach you, not the other way around. I have
confidence that you have learned from this unfortunate turn of
events and will not let it happen again. Make sure you do not fail
little Faedra; she has much to learn. It will be a while before we
have to cross that bridge. Her mother should have been the one to
teach her. That task, young Guardian, now lies in your hands. Do
not let me down.”

“No, Sire. Thank you, Sire.” He bowed his
head and the king nodded his acknowledgment.

The Bennett Cottage, Spixworth, England

Faedra sat on the swing in the back garden,
watching everyone coming and going from her vantage point. Friends
and relatives she recognized, and others she didn’t. It seemed like
an endless stream to her. They were all dressed in similar
clothing. Everyone wore black, and they looked like flies buzzing
in and out of her home.

It was the afternoon, and her father was
holding a wake for everyone who had attended the funeral earlier
that day. She had watched in tears as her mother was buried that
very morning at the local village church. Then the procession made
its way back to her house, where people had been milling about ever
since. Some of them were crying. Others looked saddened. To Faedra,
the whole thing seemed like a blur. She couldn’t quite understand
why her mother wasn’t coming back. Her father had told her she’d
gone up to heaven to be with the angels, but that didn’t make sense
to her either. Why would Mummy rather be in heaven with the angels
instead of here with the people she loved?