Wicked Forest

by E. J. Bennett

  Wicked

  Forest

  Hidden World Book 1

  E.J Bennett

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people or places are entirely coincidental.

  WICKED FOREST HIDDEN WORLD BOOK 1

  First Edition January 25th 2018

  Written by E.J Bennett

  Copyright © 2018 E.J Bennett

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Description

  Prologue

  CHAPTER 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  More books by E.J Bennett

  Description

  CRYSTAL JUST WANTS to be normal, without magic and the laws and secrets that come with it. However that is only a small problem for the socially awkward teen to the one that is yet to come.

  Halloween brings her world crashing down around her when she finds herself in a new world, where she is faced with the sins of her peoples past.

  A legend and prophecy foretold puts crystal in grave danger. With the handsome yet intriguing Levi by her side along with her crush Drake, Crystal embarks on a journey that no teen should have to face.

  A fantasy romance story with betrayal and friendship, love and loss. A true coming of age tale.

  Prologue

  “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” his father asked him in a grave voice while outside the castle chaos wreaked havoc.

  “Please forgive me father,” he begged and got on his knee. The door to the throne room was thrust open. The woman he had deceived stood in all her glory. She was not what she had seemed and he had made the worst mistake of all. One that would cost him and his family, he glanced at his mother whose eyes became as wide as saucers. She was afraid and had every right to be. Had he known then she would have been the last woman he had laid eyes on.

  Like criminals they were marched through the forest to the great Oak tree.

  Ashamed and humiliated they bowed their heads. It represented their family, planted by the very first witch. Every witch in Athens had gathered. All ready to watch his punishment be rolled out. They had yet to find out that he was not the only one that would be punished but his entire race.

  He watched as the rune glowed and the goddess grinned. He didn’t hear what she had to say through the drumming of his heart.

  A bright flash of white swallowed him whole and he felt himself free failing. “Any witch who dares to return will be executed,” he her say followed by a maniac laugh.

  CHAPTER 1

  Falling leaves drifted from the tree tops. Its golden foliage only allowed small amounts of light to pass through the twisted branches. The streams of light gave off an enchanting effect, making the forest look and feel magical. To Crystal it was the most stunning place in the world, a place where she felt at peace.

  Crystal watched the leaves fall, breathtakingly beautiful, oranges, browns and yellows. She loved autumn and the sound of the leaves crunching under her feet. The way that nature changed and prepared for winter amazed her. Even the animals and wildlife had their own routine and tasks to carryout in autumn in preparation for winter.

  Out in the woods that lay behind Crystal’s coven, she could be who she wanted to be. Not what her people expected her to be. She was free. Crystal walked further into the forest. The earth which she stepped upon came alive with pink flowers. She giggled as she observed them spurting from the earth. Magic was a part of her. In the solstice of nature she could use what had been given to her without fear. She could make the wildlife grow and give the precious gift of life.

  The tree roots twisted and entwined, making the ground uneven. The deeper she went the darker it became. It was still early morning and the sun had just begun to rise, giving little light.

  She reached the slow flowing river and sat on the grass bank. Glancing at the sliver shimmering water, Crystal saw her reflection. She sighed at the girl looking at her with her green eyes and blond curls.

  She could see the sadness and loneliness in her eyes and wondered how others didn’t. Perhaps they did and choose to ignore her inner turmoil. Dipping her hand in the cold water, Crystal watched as the water sparkled. Smiling she stood up, watching the wildlife drinking from the now purified river.

  Despite the rumors, and warnings, Crystal couldn’t see anything wrong with the beauty of nature. She wasn’t afraid. She was more at home than she was around people. The birds chirped and flew from branch to branch, their sweet melody warmed her heart and she found herself humming along with their chirps.

  Still her mother’s words haunted her. “Do not enter the Wicked Forrest, evil lies deep within the roots,” Crystal laughed out loud and spun around, letting the leaves brush against her summer dress. Although autumn had just begun, still the weather was warm.

  A slight breeze brushed her blond tressels out of her face. She stood frozen, her heart hammering against her chest. In the shadows, peeking from behind a tree someone was watching her. The whites of the person’s eyes flashed in the shimmer of light. Their face was pale against the bark of the tree. Panic grew like clusters of sparks in her stomach, making her heart drop and pound.

  Quickly, Crystal came back to her senses and ran back through the woods, following the path that led to her back garden. She jumped and stumbled over tree roots, occasionally falling and scrapping her knees and shins. All the rumors ran through her mind. She didn’t turn around, nor look back. The fear running through her veins pumping her adrenaline wouldn’t allow her too.

  When she entered the back gate to her garden she was panting.

  Calming herself she brushed leaves from her hair and ran her hands over her dress to smooth it out. There wasn’t anything she could do about her scraped knees and legs but hope her mother was not yet awake.

  Crystal slipped in the back door. The coast was clear. She had escaped a lecture from her mother. Crystal made it to the bottom of the spiraling staircase, breathing a sigh of relief, she climbed the steps.

  Within the community, the Hudson family home was the biggest, a three story mansion. To her people she was considered a princess. However, Crystal didn’t want that title. Nor anything to do with the coven, yet like every teenager she had no choice. Her parents were the boss while she was nothing but a child.

  Crystal scoffed at her thoughts.

  A child, she was almost eighteen, still her parents gave her orders and punishments. She had no hope of leaving for collage, and getting away from her over bearing and strict mother. When she finished school she would take her place within the coven. She dreaded that day.

  Time had escaped her, when she checked the clock that sat on her bedside table she sighed. It was almost eight am. She had to hurry if she was going to make it to school on time. She had already been late one time too many in the last couple of months. One more time and the school would contact her parents. There was only so many forged letters that they would accept. Plus her parents would find out that she had written the letters in the first place.

&n
bsp; In record speed, Crystal showered and blow dried her hair, it hung in soft blond waves.

  She put little make up on, and dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a white tank top.

  The jeans covered her evidence from her early morning stroll. Giving herself one last look over she hated how her hair hung and wanted to do something different. With little time she would have to do.

  Grabbing her bag that lay haphazardly on the floor she headed downstairs. She could smell bacon and eggs cooking. Her stomach let out a growl as she entered the kitchen, kicking herself for not allowing time for breakfast she put a smile on her face.

  “Good morning,” her mother Jeannette greeted her.

  “Morning mother,” Crystal grabbed a slice of toast and took a big bite. Her mother’s eyes grew wide and her pupils darkened hiding her green irises.

  “Gotta go,” she mumbled.

  Without giving her mother time to go into a lecture on the importance of speaking proper English, Crystal exited the back door. She had eaten the slice of toast within seconds, still her stomach panged with hunger. It would have to wait while lunch. She made a mental note to take sandwiches with her on her next morning visit to the forest. Even after her recent scare she still wanted to go back there.

  Walking around to the front of the house she glanced over her shoulder to the woods. A shiver ran down her spine causing her to shudder, her bare arms erupted in goosebumps as the flash of someone watching her filled her mind. It was nothing. She told herself.

  When she reached the front of her home, Crystal began to jog.

  She couldn’t be late again.

  By the time she reached the school gate, her face was flushed and she had to pause to catch her breath. She had made it with time to spare. Smiling at herself she crossed the school parking lot and walked up the school stone steps to the front entrance. She hated the place with a passion. Yet it was her only escape from home life.

  Chapter 2

  Jeanette watched her youngest child dart from the room. She sighed. Crystal was stubborn and headstrong. The plans she had made for her rebellious daughter wouldn’t go down well and she knew it. Perhaps one day Crystal would see the bigger picture. Jeanette doubted that. She had to find a way to get Crystal to do what was needed.

  Freedom was close, closer than it had been for so long, Jeanette couldn’t stop the excitement that welled inside her. Sacrifices had to be made. Crystal would just have to learn that, sooner rather than later.

  Jeanette plated up Henry’s, her husband’s breakfast and cleaned away all the pots and wiped the sides before he appeared.

  He looked ruff, he had stubble on his chin and his eyes held a tried redness.

  “For goodness sake Henry pull yourself together,” Jeanette snapped.

  “I think what we are doing is wrong. I can see this ending badly,” he muttered. Jeanette slammed her hands down on the counter and gave him a deadly glare.

  “You, need to man up. This is what we have been waiting for. This opportunity will not come again and you know it,”

  “But at what cost Jeanette? What are the lengths you are willing to go too to get what you want?” he questioned her.

  “What we want, what the coven want,” Jeanette corrected him. He had away to make her feel guilty. She wasn’t going to let him this time. She had worked too hard to let Henry Hudson ruin what she had worked for.

  “At the cost of our daughter?”

  “Yes, we are the lucky ones. Just like I knew we would be. Mama blessed us with the key. You should be happy,”

  “I like it here, going back isn’t something...” he looked at her and Jeanette knew her face showed her anger and annoyance. Without finishing his sentence he got up and left.

  She watched him retreat. If only he understood like she did. But like her daughter, Henry was stubborn. He would come around. He always did. It was what her was taught to do, follow the rules and supporting her was one of them. She smiled as she waited for the elders to arrive. It was the day her plan was going to be put into motion. The first steps to...

  A knock on the door told her they were on time and cut her thoughts off.

  She marched through the house and opened the door. Her heels clicked on the white tiles as she moved. Jeanette was dressed for the occasion, a tight black business shirt with a white blouse. Her hair was piled at the top of her head in a neat bun. The only make up she wore was a bright red lipstick that made her eyes stand out.

  “Martha, Gary and Dean come on in,” the three oldest members of the coven had faces of stone. No expression. Miserable gets, Jeanette thought as she closed the door with a soft thud.

  She led them into the living room offering them each a cup of tea, and a sandwich.

  “I am pleased to tell you all. I have found the perfect match for Crystal,” she grinned while the three elders looked at one another.

  “What about Hugo, he is a strong boy with immense power,” Martha said voicing her thoughts.

  “Hugo is a good match. Just not the perfect one. The young man I have found will be enough to get us home. Of that I am sure,” the elders didn’t look convinced.

  “Our ancestors have heard our call,” Jeanette said proudly.

  Chapter 3

  The school hallway must have been designed by a manic depressive person, either that or someone obsessed with grey. It was dull and boring. Even the doors were painted in the same shade. The teachers had done their bit, hanging posters in primary colors, yet the overall impression was of drabness. It held no color or light. Crystal longed to paint the doors bright colors giving the place a more cheery look. A glass dome roof would be nice with flowers reaching for the light.

  Bump. Crystal flew into the prison-hued wall; standing still for too long was never a great idea.

  Crystal was a day dreamer, with a creative mind.

  Those two things never bode well and often landed her in trouble. A girl with long blond hair, that shined like silk sneered down at her and her breath caught in her throat. Maria O’Conner the queen bee. She wore tight clothing and had a perfectly painted face. Crystal looked into the girls grey-blue stony eyes and felt her face set like rig a mortises, her teeth were locked up tight.

  She had peed off the popular girl before the school day had even started. The girl smiled at Crystal, with a smile that never meant good things. It was more of a sneer giving her an animal like look.

  “Watch where you’re going freak,” Maria said, and Crystal looked at the floor. She didn’t want to provoke the girl but could feel the beginnings of anger stir in their hidden depths. Not making eye contact was a good start to keep her anger in check.

  “Look at her, on the floor where dogs belong,” Maria mocked to her followers who had joined her to see what the commotion was about.

  Crystal stood on shaky legs not from fear but anger. She had to be careful, yet all reasonable thought was fading. Her magic and anger didn’t do well mixed together.

  She clenched her hands into fists and looked Maria in the eyes. “Better than being plastic,” Crystal said brushing her shoulder hard against Maria’s as she pushed past.

  The piercing sound of the bell vibrated around the corridor. The deafening noise was enough to break the crowd up that had gathered around Crystal.

  She made her way to first period. History. She hated the class.

  Not only did she have to attend History at school but also within her community. What her mother called real history. However school History class and that of the community became confusing, they mixed together in her mind leaving behind a jumbled mess.

  On and on the teacher droned about some guy who had long since been buried. Why didn’t they just leave the dead alone. It wasn’t like she was interested what happened before she was born. It was the past and should stay that way.

  Crystal let her mind wonder back to the forest. She was sure that someone was there. However looking back now she thought it was just her imagination. The never ending warnings f
rom her parents and the elders had just mingled with reality. Causing her to be afraid when there was nothing to be afraid of, she decided then and there she would return to the forest and rid herself of the unwanted fear. It was her special place.

  When the bell rang signaling the end of class, Crystal knocked her chair over in her haste to get out of the room. Picking her chair up, she joined the throng of students and exited the classroom. Her next lesson was math. She groaned out loud as she dragged her feet down the corridor. Her legs felt heavy as she made her way to the second floor. She had to force herself to take each step. Math’s was another class she could have done without.

  As she walked up the stairs to the second floor Drake leaned against the wall. His dark hair was a little long and drifted into his eyes. Crystal longed to brush it aside. As she got closer to him, the faster her heart beat. As always he was surrounded by students who could easily have jumped out of a fashion magazine.

  His eyes met hers and he winked. Dropping her head low she scuttled past him, hugging her books close to her chest. He had caught her checking him out. Crystal’s face reddened as she entered the classroom. She could feel the heat in her cheeks.

  Taking her seat next to Hugo a boy from her coven she pulled out her notebook and pen. She had to at least look like she was working.

  “Crystal?” putting a smile on her face she turned to face Hugo, he was the geeky kind, top of the class and a goody too shoes. His top goal was to impress. He pushed up his glasses that rested on the bridge of his nose, and then pressed his lips together in a tight line.

  Crystal couldn’t deny he was handsome with his blond hair and blue eyes. He had a surfer body, which was a light honey color, kissed by the sun. But overall his overachieving personality just got on her nerves.

  “I was thinking maybe we could get coffee,” he tapped his pen on the desk as he spoke, which irritated Crystal. She tried not to let it show, but had no doubt that her smile by now looked more like a grimace. Her sister Ruby had always said that her facial expressions were like an open book. They betrayed her thoughts and feelings, it must be the truth as Ruby always knew how she was feeling and guessed her thoughts.