Regina
Page 1
The Delengrad Trilogy
Book One:
Regina
Written and Created by: Mary Ann Moody
Cover and Book Jacket Created by: Crystal Maloney
Copyright , Mary Ann Moody 2014
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please see Createspace for more information, www.createspace.com.
All of the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Regina and the Delengrad trilogy are an original creation by Mary Ann Moody.
Regina is dedicated to my wonderful parents, Richard and Linda Mangrum. Their love and encouragement molded me into the eccentric writer I am today, and I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. I love you both.
To the inhabitants of the real Lee, Texas: Thank you for the best childhood a writer could ask for.
And a huge thank you to Crystal Maloney for creating the cover and book jacket to Regina.
M. A. M.
Prologue
Dreams are real.
Scientists say they are not sure why we dream. They assume dreams are a combination of verbal, visual, and emotional stimuli combined into sometimes fragmented nonsense. No one can be sure what they are, but dreams have inspired people. Stephen King said he received inspiration for his books from his dreams. I thought it was an entertaining idea.
I read an article online that said early civilizations thought dream worlds were real, physical worlds that they could enter only from their dream state. I thought it was very interesting.
A man said his college Sociology professor taught a theory: our souls leave our bodies when we sleep and our dreams are remnants of its experiences. That was my favorite theory. I can think of that now and not cry. The pain of his betrayal still lingers.
For me, my dreams led to my real self and to my real home. I realized the repetition of my dreams when I was a little girl. I didn’t care about them until I moved to Lee, Texas.
This is the story of me, the life and dreams of Regina Roth. Regina no longer exists, but through her, our stories will finally be told.
Chapter One
I didn’t discover the plot to murder me until it was too late. I never saw it coming. It started with the need to leave New York for Lee, Texas. Leaving my home, my summertime youth, my closet, our upper west side apartment, my friends, and boyfriend made me angry. My heart filled up with an intense ache. It hurt so much in my chest. I couldn’t help but cry the whole way to the airport. I knew I upset my mom. I felt her eyes on me the entire day and saw the tears that escaped her eyes. She felt miserable for me and I knew I shouldn’t be so selfish, but I couldn’t help it. I was in mourning, too.
I was in denial after daddy pulled me aside to tell me the terrible news, we were going to my mother’s hometown for the summer to help her mysterious father bury his wife, my grandmother. My dead grandmother was as much of a mystery to me as my grandfather. My mother never talked about her parents, let alone her life before she met my father. Daddy said she didn’t get along with her parents and once she graduated high school, she left and never returned.
“Never?” I asked him that day. I felt full of doubt when he first told me.
“Never.” The dark look in his eyes haunted me. “She never wanted to return. Regina, your mother’s parents are religious fanatics who disapproved of everything she did. They looked down on her and judged every decision she made as if they were the Universe. The town is tiny, and the people are snotty and judgmental. Plus everything closes at dusk. Lee is never a place I would want to live.”
I shuddered at the thought. Daddy sounded so firm and serious. I become scared of the man I would meet. My mother’s father. I was curious about him, but I let my imagination run away with me. I pictured him as seven feet tall and towered over me. He had menacing red eyes and thin red lips. His judging eyes would mistake me for a sinner and I would spend the whole summer running from this wild, religious freak.
I let out a deep breath while I waited for the plane to board. The plane was right outside the window, getting ready to whisk me away. My family and I would soon board into the first class section. Then the plane would take off, and take me away from New York and every wonderful moment I longed to have. I felt my stomach turn. I knew I was going to throw up and ran into the nearest bathroom.
I felt something terrible waited for me in Lee and I was scared.
-----
I washed my face with cold water and took deep breaths after my anxiety attack passed. The lights flickered as I washed my hands. Why was I panicking so badly? I know I’m leaving my home, but I can live with that. It’s only for the summer, not forever.
“So why can’t I breathe? Why can’t I stop shaking?” I asked my reflection.
I took more deep breaths and tried to get hold of myself. The dingy light turquoise tiles on the walls made my stomach turn. I moaned as my head spun. The room smelled bad which didn’t help my nausea. My blonde hair looked grossly pale and unwashed under the low lights. My blue eyes did nothing to hide the fear behind them. Everyone says I’m such a pretty girl, but the person staring back at me in the mirror was scared and far from pretty.
“Everything is going to be okay. I’m going to be okay.” I told myself over and over. I repeated the mantra in my head and felt better with every deep breath. Eventually, the room stopped spinning.
“Flight seven fifty-five for Austin Texas now boarding first class and handicapped passengers at gate seven. Boarding for flight seven fifty-five, Austin Texas, first class and handicapped passengers, gate seven.” The announcement said.
That was me.
Before I left the bathroom, I gave myself a hard look in the mirror and repeated, “I am going to do this because I am strong. My mother needs me. I’m going to find an adventure in Lee and return to New York where I belong.”
I stared into the mirror for another minute. The smell was not so bad now that I breathed it in for so long. I gazed at my tall, slim figure in the mirror. I really didn’t want to leave this stinky bathroom now, but I felt silly about my anxiety. I looked myself firmly in the eye and walked out of the restroom.
My pep talk didn’t work. The moment I opened the restroom door, I felt like running anywhere but towards that plane. I felt my feet grow roots into the floor. My sweet father saw my hesitation and immediately came to my aid. I was happy mom boarded the plane and didn’t see my anxiety. Her happiness was the only reason I agreed to go.
“G? Are you okay?” My father’s voice called out with concern.
I laughed internally. My father was such a worrywart when it came to me. Plus his nickname for me, G, was such a lame attempt to be cool in front of me and my friends, but I loved him for it.
“Yes, daddy. Just not feeling well. I don’t think breakfast sat well with me.” I lied.
“Well, do you think you’re ready? We can board.” He asked as he nodded his head at the plane.
I opened my mouth to speak when the feeling of doom and vomit rose like a tidal wave intent on destroying me. I felt the heat in my cheeks and my breath quicken. I resisted the urge to dig my fingernails into the ground, refuse to go, and scream like a child in order to get my way. Never before had I felt such emotions of panic. I sat down heavily into the chair beside me.
“Regina, please don’t do this to your mother. We’ve talked about this before. It’s only for two months while we help grandpa George sort out the funeral and estate. He has no one to help him and nowhere to go. We have to make sure he has a home and someone to take care of him.” His face filled with fear.
My parents were afraid I would not get on the plane for Texas.
“I know. I just needed a moment. I’m ready. Let’s get going.” I lied as I forced a smile. I successfully pushed the anxiety down and boarded the plane that would take me to my summer adventure.
Had I known the horrors that awaited me in Lee, I never would’ve boarded the plane.