The Key ( #1 Anna Kippling Series) YA Paranormal Romance / Epic Fantasy

by A. D. Duling

  “What is electricity?” he asked her.

  “Well…” Anna searched her dormant thoughts, trying to uproot what she had learned in school. “It’s a current of power that gives you light,” She explained, but knew she had poorly done so. Anna could picture the teacher who had taught her, imagining him shaking his head at her in disappointment.

  Nathan smiled. “Well if you’re electricity is a current that comes from a stone, then yes, we do use it.” He walked over and grabbed the lamp off the table and brought it over to her.

  Anna shook her head. “No, it doesn’t come from a stone; it comes in a different way, but I don’t think I can explain that to you,” She confessed.

  He chuckled. “That’s quite alright Anna, what we use also cannot be explained.” He lifted the lid and Anna looked inside. Instead of oil and a wick, she found a tiny orb of light resting at the bottom. “It’s actually a stone,” he explained, “When it becomes dark it glows.”

  Anna smiled, the light from the tiny orb lit up her face. “That’s neat!”

  From the large fireplace behind him, Karina opened the cast iron door of the built in oven with her apron and pulled out a loaf of bread. Nathan placed the lid back on the glass lamp and grabbed a plate for her. Karina carried the loaf pan over and patted the loaf of bread out of it. The bread plopped down on the plate and the fragrance of freshly made bread floated to Anna’s nose and made her belly grumble. Karina returned to the oven and shut the little metal door.

  “Tomorrow Nathan can tell you all about that, but right now by the sound of your tummy, you need some stew and then I am sure you’ll be ready for bed,” Karina said as she scooped a large ladle full of the stew from the Dutch oven sitting on the old fashioned stove inside the hearth, next to the stove. She filled the bowl full and carried it over to Anna. The fragrance of that, brought another grumble to her belly, a louder one in which everybody heard and laughed at.

  “I see that you’re stomach approves!” Karina teased her as she fetched a spoon from the drawer of the hutch for her. She gave it a quick wipe on her apron and handed it to her. Anna took it.

  “I think it’s time I take my leave,” the General spoke up behind her. Anna had almost forgotten him and turned around in her chair to look at him, “I shall say my goodnight and will return for you in the morning Anna,” He said to her following it with another polite bow. Anna smiled at him and Nathan walked over to escorted him out. By the time Nathan returned, Anna had already devoured most of Karina’s stew.

  “Would you like some more Anna?” he offered her and she gave him sheepish look, feeling very embarrassed over her messy eating.

  “I’m sorry! I must have looked like a beast eating this…” She apologized, “but it was so good!” she praised the meal and he laughed.

  “Don’t be, completely understandable!” He assured her, still chuckling.

  A yawn sneaked past her and Karina walked over and gave Anna’s shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.” Anna gave no objection and stood up. She said goodnight to Nathan, which was followed by another yawn and a chuckle, was his goodnight in response. Anna left him collecting up her dishes as she followed Karina up the wooden staircase to the rooms above it. Anna followed right behind her down the tiny hallway to the bedroom at the end. Inside Anna found a twin size wooden bed with a down feather mattress waiting for her tired body. On the other side of it was a small matching wardrobe closet from which Karina grabbed a nightgown for her.

  A matching side table with a similar lamp to the one downstairs sat next to the bed and a small bookcase sat against the opposite wall from the wardrobe, the final piece of furniture inside the tiny bedroom. Old and worn books lined the two shelves of the small book case. Anna walked over and read a few of the titles. Curious Pixie Claims and Adventures of Clickity Cloward were two among many strange titles. Anna assumed this was her grandmother’s childhood bedroom.

  “Your grandmother loved to read,” Karina spoke behind her. Anna turned around and watched her lay out the nightgown on the bed for her.

  “Karina, about my grandmother…” Anna went to explain, but the woman’s hand came up and stopped her.

  “I know… I think I knew when I saw you here without her,” She said, almost in a whisper. Her attention returned to the nightgown and Karina worked on flattening its collar down.

  “There are so many things I want to ask you…” said Anna.

  “I know you have many questions Anna,” Karina answered and looked up at her, “But tonight you must get some rest. Tomorrow will be the time for questions.”

  Karina walked over to her and pushed aside the strand of hair that had slipped out from Anna’s braid. Karina kissed her cheek and gave her arms a squeeze.

  “Goodnight,” she said.

  “Goodnight.”

  When the woman left her, Anna changed into the nightgown and crawled into bed; sleep followed quickly thereafter.

  Chapter Six

  The sweet fragrance of breakfast floated up from downstairs to the room where Anna slept and tugged her away from her dreams. All the memories of yesterday flooded her mind as she sat up in bed and took in her reality. Her adventure had not been a dream and today more of it awaited her. Anna stretched her arms above her head and inhaled the scent of eggs and bacon. The promise to answers had been given to her by Karina last night and Anna had many of them.

  Anna climbed out of bed and politely made it up. Lying at the foot of the bed, she found a dress and undergarments for her to change into. A note sat on top informing her about the bathroom across the hall where she could wash up and change. Anna wondered what the bathroom looked like and hoped as she opened the door and entered the hallway that Tatania had too discovered indoor plumbing. She was in need of a bath and hoped it would be a warm one.

  Outside in the hallway, Anna could hear conversation between three individuals downstairs. It seemed the General had already arrived. Another wave of her awaiting breakfast floated up and hurried Anna across the tiny hallway over to the bathroom. Inside she was relieved to find a bathtub and even more relieved when she discovered a toilet. Anna pressed down on the handle and the toilet flushed; another happy discovery. Anna hung her clothing from the hooks on the wall and walked over to the bath tub. Upon turning the knobs, blessed hot water poured out of the faucet and she filled the tub for a nice soak. Anna quickly stripped and submerged herself up to her neck. The layer of sweat and dirt from yesterday’s travel was washed off with a lavender smelling soap. Anna could have spent the whole morning soaking inside the porcelain tub, but knew it would have been rude to and her parents had taught her better. So she kept her “soaking” to a brief span and as she watched the water drain away with the dirt of yesterday, she felt rejuvenated for the upcoming day ahead.

  The under clothing was dated, resembling a camisole and boy shorts type of underwear. The lovely dress provided to her was made of a light cotton fabric and pastel green in color, it complimented Anna’ fair skin and fell down to mid-calf. Toiletries sat waiting for her on the sink and Anna brushed her teeth with a wooden and rough bristle tooth brush and a similar made hair brush. Anna grabbed her hairband and slipped it around her wrist to pull upper her long brown hair with later after it dried

  Back in the bedroom, Anna liked the pretty girl staring back at her from the mirror of the wardrobe and found she didn’t mind the pastel green dress; Anna never wore dresses at home. By the door, Anna found long cream colored knee high socks lying on a pair of pioneer looking brown boots. She assumed they had been left for her as well by Karina. The socks felt like silk and even though the boots needed lacing up, they were easy for her to put on. Anna left her dirty clothes piled in the basket next to the wardrobe closet and headed downstairs.

  At the kitchen table, she found the couple and the General huddled and in deep conversation. Anna could see only Karina’s face and unhappiness was painted all over it. She didn’t have to be older or wiser to know something fis
hy was going on, Anna was sure of it. Karina spotted her first and shot up with the two men following after. Warm greeting faces were quickly displayed to her as Anna joined them at the table.

  “Well don’t you look lovely,” Karina complimented her as Anna sat down across from her. The General sat at Anna’s left and Nathan across from him. “Let me get your breakfast,” she said and went to the stove to fix Anna a plate. Anna sat in silence with the men. She watched as they exchanged silent communicated messages and played dumb to them. Anna was starting to feel very uncomfortable, she felt uneasy in her gut and remembered her mother teaching her about danger and trusting that gut.

  “I trust you had a restful sleep?” Nathan finally asked.

  Anna smiled and nodded at him. From the corner of her eye she could see a big smile on the General’s face, but nothing about it seemed genuine. Anna looked at him full on and the smile grew bigger. Anna didn’t believe the General to be the pleasant man he was presenting to her. A chill lingered in the air which radiated from the man smiling back at her. Anna looked back to Nathan and received another smile from him. His however was a genuine warm one, but he looked uncomfortable and Anna knew Nathan’s discomfort was not because of her. His eyes seemed to look anywhere, but at her or the General now. They sat in silence as they waited for Karina to return. Nathan played preoccupied as he looked down at the newspaper lying in front of him, pretending to read it. His eyes however didn’t seem to be scanning the words, but seemed instead to stare straight through the paper and the wood of the table underneath it, lost in deep contemplation.

  Karina returned to the table a minute later and sat a full plate of breakfast down in front of Anna. “It’s been a while since I had eggs and bacon for breakfast,” Anna said to her and took a bite of the eggs. “Delicious!” she complimented her, politely covering her mouth.

  Karina buttered a piece of toasted bread and placed it on her plate. “I’m glad you like it, would you like a glass of milk to go with it?” She asked her and Anna nodded. Karina went to the hutch and grabbed a glass for her. She then bent over and opened the cupboard door below it. When she opened the door, Anna found their version of a refrigerator behind it. Karina reached in and pulled out the ceramic pitcher full of milk and filled the glass up.

  “What do you call that contraption?” Anna asked her, wondering what name they had labeled it with.

  “It’s a refrigerator; do you not have one like this in your world Anna?” Nathan asked her innocently and she laughed. It seemed even in Tatanian, “refrigerator” deemed the proper title for it, however un-similar it was to what they used at home.

  “Yes we do, but a little larger.” Anna said, leaving her explanation at that.

  He smiled and returned to staring down at his paper. Karina returned to the table with her glass of milk and placed it down in front of Anna’s plate. Anna decided not to ask where they got their milk from, as she took a drink of it. It tasted every bit as the milk from home and was happy with that. Through the glass she caught an uncomfortable exchange of looks between the couple as Karina sat back down at the table beside her husband.

  “Is everything alright?” Anna asked them, setting her glass down.

  Nathan smiled and nodded. “Yes, everything fine…” He assured her, “It’s just that the General would like you to meet a friend of his after breakfast, is all.” He added, failing to convince her.

  “Who…?” Anna asked him, looking to the General. Another fake smile was displayed to her.

  “It’s a very old friend of mine and he’s very excited to meet you.” He said coolly, only convincing Anna more to feel suspicious of this planned meeting.

  Anna gave them a naïve smile and continued to eat her breakfast. She swallowed down half of it and then had to push the plate away. Not from being full, but from having lost her appetite instead. Her stomach was now twisted in knots; the aspects of losing her breakfast had now become possible rather than probable. The stares she received while eating her meal, had been too much. If any of them had noticed the change in her demeanor during that tormented meal, they however did not express it.

  Karina grabbed Anna’s plate and carried it over to the sink. The General stood up and grabbed the navy blue tri-corner hat he wore as part of his uniform from off the table and looked down at her. “We really should get going; we are due there within the half hour,” He stressed. He placed the hat on his head and pulled out his pocket watch to double check the time.

  Nathan stood up first in response and walked with him over to the front door. Karina came back to the table and pulled Anna up out of her seat and into a hug. Her embrace seemed far too intense to be a light hearted farewell and this scared Anna. “I will see you later Karina, right?” Anna asked her.

  The woman let go of her and stepped back. “Of course you will!” She assured her with poor conviction.

  The meal in Anna’s stomach churned in an unpleasant manner and the pounding of her heart increased tenfold as she gave a weak smile in return. A peek of worry came to Karina’s face; it seemed neither was convincing the other. She now knew of Anna’s suspicions and her hand came up to Anna’s cheek. “Everything will be fine, Anna,” Karina assured her, rubbing her cheek.

  Anna nodded and walked to the door to join the men waiting patiently there for her. I’ll make a run for it… streamed across her mind as the General gave her another false smile and then opened the door for her. A plan came in quick flashes inside her head as Anna watched him step outside. Then just as she was about to follow, the door slammed shut and was dead bolted.

  The door handle jiggled and then banging came from the other side, where the General now stood, locked out. Anna gawked at Nathan, worry creased his brow. His hand grabbed her arm and he pulled her back towards the kitchen where Karina waited in front of the hutch. The rug in front of it was rolled back, revealing a door in the floor. “You have to trust us Anna and do everything we tell you!” Nathan instructed her, lifting the door up, “This is a trap and you need to get out of here!”

  Karina stuffed a letter into her dress pocket and Anna looked over at her. “We are not who we say we are, but please understand we were forced to do this!” The woman’s eyes were pleading for forgiveness. Anna nodded and squeezed Karina’s hand that took hold of hers. She believed her. Karina hugged her and received the same fierce embrace in return. Nathan touched his wife’ back and the woman let go of her.

  “Anna, this tunnel leads to the alley a few yards down; when you get out, there will be a man on a horse waiting there for you,” said Nathan. He helped her climb down inside of it and then Anna looked up at them. A loud thump came from the other side of the locked door; something heavy was now being struck against it.

  Karina handed her down a bag. “Take this.” Anna grabbed it. “It has your things in it; give that letter to Harmon, it explains everything.”

  Anna nodded and looked at them. Fear plagued their eyes and faces as they stared down at her. Anna would worry about the two strangers that cared so much about her. The sound of splintering wood came from behind them and Nathan quickly grabbed the door. “Duck!” he yelled to her and Anna crouched down.

  The door slammed above her; leaving her in total darkness. Anna heard the rug roll back and then listened. More splintering wood came and then a loud thump as the door came crashing down upon the wooden floorboards. Multiple booted footsteps rushed across the planked floor and then a scream followed from Karina. It quickly became muffled and then a cry out came from Nathan and she heard conflict above her. She heard a grunt and then the sound of a body falling to the floor. Anna turned and crawled frantically away from them towards the safety of the other end. Her head banged hard into the dirt dead end when she reached it, but Anna ignored the pain and quickly felt around above her. When her fingers touched wood, Anna pushed hard up on it and sent the door flying open. Sunlight from above shocked her eyes and temporarily blinded her.

  “Give me your hand!” A male voice yelled to
her.

  Anna blindly reached up and a hand grabbed a hold of hers. She was yanked out of the tunnel and plopped down onto her boots on the ground above. Between her eyelashes as she blinked, Anna looked at the male figure standing before her. His face was partially covered, revealing only his eyes. As her vision returned, their coloring became clearer and Anna realized she was staring into a deep shade of grey. Anna had never seen gray eyes before.

  A horse snorted beside them and nudged the man’s shoulder. He mounted and then reached his hand down to her. “Take my hand and climb up!” he yelled to her.

  Anna grabbed it and tried climbing up. She heard him grumble as she clumsily tried to get into the saddle behind him. Not patient, his hand roughly came up under her rear and he pushed her up into the saddle.

  “Put your arms around my waist and hold on tight!” He ordered her and Anna did as instructed. Just as her fingers linked together into a tight vise grip in front of him, he clicked his tongue and the horse jolted forward. He guided the speeding horse towards the back of the city. “Stop!” yelled a soldier after them; arriving too late. The rider guided the horse down the cobblestone side streets towards the rear outer wall of the city and then gave a light kick to increase the animal’s speed.