by Brynn Myers
You didn’t make it far; an Unseelie guard was standing at the exit of the dungeon, hiding in a half-ghost form. He subdued you from behind with a spike to the neck. Whatever poison was injected into you left your mind hazy and your body immobile. Two guards held you as Liam stripped you of your linen drape. "How foolish of me to have disregarded you, dear goddess. I won’t make that mistake again." Those words became etched in your mind as he struck you, knocking you to the floor.
I refuse to write down all you endured that night because I am certain in time it will all come back to you, but for your sake, I hope those memories will remain bound by Morrigan and Brighid’s enchantment. However, these words you must remember: if you do not learn to control the power within you, it will consume more than just your enemy.
It is unclear how much time passed before the Naio finally managed to make their way to Liam’s fortress. He kept you drugged at all times so you could not harm him or anyone in his horde. You could hear sounds of fighting but it seemed like just another dream until a woman came into your cell, calling out your name. She knelt down beside you and held you gently in her arms. When you stared into her aventurine eyes, you knew she was not an illusion; you knew she was your mother.
Caoilainn held your head in her hands and forced you to drink a bittersweet liquid that burned as it coated your throat. Your strength began to return; it healed not only your wounds but your thoughts as well. You embraced the peace you felt in her arms, but it abruptly turned into your worst nightmare when Liam shadowed in and grabbed her. He seized her by the hair and pulled her away from you. The knife he held to her throat began to draw blood. As the blood trickled down her neck, she began to chant the words of the priestesses and magic permeated the air.
He spat out the words. "This blade is charmed to maim even a goddess. I had it made to protect me from you, my beauty." Your stomach heaved, knowing that unless she was taken to the labyrinth, she would die. You moved towards him as her eyes pleaded for you to stay away. Your mother’s magic continued to charm the air in the cell, causing Liam to become distracted. He did not see your father come up behind him, hitting him in the ribs with his broadsword. Liam staggered to the side but grinned wildly as he sliced your mother’s throat. Liam instantly changed to his dark form as her body dropped to the floor beside you. The shadowy snake-like demons began to snap and claw at her with their jagged fangs. You tried to save her, but they began to attack your father, causing his eyes to turn white. You refused to stand by and watch them die. It was your fault they were there in the first place.
The realization that your torturer was now your mother’s murderer sent you over the edge. As tears streamed down your face, the flames flashed and turned azure blue. They were meant to consume Liam and his dark monsters; they were meant stop the attack on your mother’s soul, but once again, your inability to control the power within led to deadly consequences. Father tried to stop you, but it was too late. The flames had already crept up the walls as they made their way to the ceiling. You watched in silence as the room became engulfed.
You cannot take back what you did, but you can know Mom’s final words. They are forever burned into your soul. "Remember the purity in your heart, Kylah. The geis is unfolding as foretold, and you my child, are the key. Slán páiste mo chroí, is breá linn duit." You curled up next to their charred bodies and wept. You knew Liam managed to escape, and you did not care if he came back to take you. You knew you were no longer alive; you died the moment they did.
Aerric found you, gathered you into his arms, and faded you back to the labyrinth. He brought you to your grandmother’s so they could heal you, but you remained catatonic. Everyone tried to ease your pain, but the sorrow became your only companion. Dillon and Tynan tried to convince you it was not your fault Liam killed your parents, but it did not matter who delivered the fatal wound. The pain was and is more than you can bear, but you must learn to stand inside yourself. Free the burden that lies within your heart so you can heal.
I need for you to remember the day you met the old blind woman on the road, the day you walked out beyond the boundary lands. She sat underneath your favorite willow and told you that your destiny had only just begun. Two ravens flew overhead as she told you that you were to be a guide to the afterlife, a coimeádaí anam, the one who would take the dead to the great hall.
"To some you are a way to the light and to others you will be their true destruction," the old woman said.
Lost in your sorrow, you dismissed her claims about being a soul keeper. That was a job relegated to the fae, but you should have listened. Mother came to you in a dream and verified the old woman’s claims; you are able to see the souls of those who have passed. Your job is to keep them safe from the Sluagh and deliver them to the hall of souls: the middle ground between the netherworld and the otherworld. You are the Sluagh's greatest fear, which is why you have to embrace what you truly are so you can save the innocent and punish the unforgiven.
These words have been difficult to write and even more painful to admit, but I know you will learn from my mistakes. Do not let yourself wallow in sorrow as I have. Our family needs you, Aerric needs you, and the Naio need you. You no longer have the luxury of being a foolish young girl; you need to become the warrior mom and dad knew you could be, and seek the retribution we all deserve.
Kylah Aednat Brannagh O’Cianain
Glossary-
Aos Sí (shee)- Descendants of the pre-Celtic inhabitants of Ireland. They are a supernatural race of fairies broken into two courts, Seelie and Unseelie. These otherworldly beings resemble humans in appearance but are taller and extremely beautiful. Both courts of the Aos Si are tall, cunning, exceedingly powerful and deadly if provoked. While most are striking to look at, there are the exceptions; they can also be terrifying and hideous.
Book of Shadows- A spell book or diary containing religious texts and instructions for magical rituals.
Cruachan (crew-hahn)- Entrance to the Otherworld
Coimeádaí anam- Soul keeper
Hall of Souls- The place where souls go after they pass into the fade. It is the middle ground between the Otherworld and the Underworld.
Geis- An obligation which binds someone to do or not do something. It is a sacred bond with magical/divine ties. To break it will bring about horrible misfortunes, even death. Similar to a prophecy.
Grimoire- A magical book of spells
Labyrinth- The underground home of Morrigan, Brighid, and The Nine. It is an elaborate system of mazes deep beneath the earth. The mazes constantly shift and change in order to keep their home impenetrable. The mazes are basalt with dirt floors and moss covered walls. Once through the maze, the entrance to the estate is marked by 20 foot marble doors that can only be opened if you bear the mark of the goddesses.
Naoi (Nine)- An elite force of nine supernatural beings joined together by Morrigan & Brighid to protect their race. These warriors were all chosen for their individual talents. Their job is to protect the innocent souls and punish those who wish to enslave the human world as well as the supernatural.
Nemeton- A sacred space
Nine- A Celtic sacred number which represents the beginning and end of all things.
Samhain (Sow-in)- It is generally celebrated on October 31st, but some traditions celebrate it November 1st. It is a magical interlude where the mundane laws of time and space are temporarily suspended and the thin veil between the Underworld and the Otherworld is lifted. It marks the end of the "lighter half" of the year and beginning of the "darker half."
Sluagh (sloo-ah)- Are the spirits of the restless dead. They are so malevolent they are not welcome in the Otherworld (heaven) or the Underworld (hell). The Sluagh have been rejected by the gods and goddesses, including the deities that leaned towards the dark arts. They feed off the souls of the wicked but prefer the souls of the chaste.
Torque (tork)- A neck piece worn by high ranking Celts. They are made of precious metals and are embellished with intri
cate Celtic designs and/or jewels.
Triskele- A druid symbol used to describe the sacred number three. It is regarded as a highly sacred number and often stands for the three realms: Land, Sea, and Sky. It is also used to describe "threefold" or triadic deities.
Irish phrases-
Slán páiste mo chroí, is breá linn duit- "Goodbye my, sweet child. We love you."
Deifiúr- "Sister"
Máthair (MAW her)- "Mother"
A Ghrá mo Chroí- "Love of my heart"
Mo chro- "my heart"
A chuisle, a chro- "my pulse, my heart"
Cronaím thú- "I miss you"
Gráim thú (graw-im hoo)- "I love you"
Mo ghrá- "my love"
Dia duit mo ghrá- "Hello my love"
Mo Ghrá, Tá mo chroí istigh ionat- "My love, my heart is within you"
Family-
Brighid-Goddess of Fire- She is one of the great mothers of the Celts. Brighid is highly regarded as a healing goddess and has many honoring her all over Ireland. She governs the forge's fire and is considered the "Bright Goddess." She is associated with the element of fire but also divination and prophecy. Brighid has the ability to wield and control fire at will.
Morrigan-Triple Goddess- The Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone, each of which symbolizes both a separate stage in the female life cycle and a phase of the moon. She often rules one of the realms of earth, underworld, and the heavens. She is also the shape-shifting Celtic Goddess of War, Fate, and Death. She presides over rivers, lakes, and fresh water, in addition to being the patroness of revenge, magic, prophecy, and witches. Morrigan has the ability to shift into a raven or crow but she can also change her physical appearance when it suits her needs. She is deeply loyal to her family and her "sister" goddess Brighid.
Caolainn (Kay-lin) Brannagh- Her name means white pure raven. She is Morrigan’s beloved daughter. She had all of her mother’s abilities but preferred to embrace the "mother" aspect of her mother’s three sides but has often been underestimated when it comes to her abilities.
Cearnach (Kar-nah) O'Cianain- His name means victorious champion of the faithful one, and he is Brighid's youngest son. He was the leader of The Nine until the night he was killed in a battle by the Sluagh leader Liam. He is a fearsome warrior feared by all who have encountered the end of his sword. He has trained all of the members of The Nine–all except Obsydian who came to the Nine well-trained and beyond deadly.
Dillon Brannagh O'Cianain- His name means loyal raven. He is the son of Caolainn and Cearnach and he is Kylah’s oldest brother. By the nature of his lineage, he is a god. His ability is shifting into anything he chooses but he most often chooses the raven. Dillon is the strong silent type…a man of few words. As his human self, he is known for being a no nonsense businessmen with little tolerance for bullshit, and as his god self, well, not much is different. He is a natural born leader and will defend his family at all costs, especially his sister Kylah. His name in the human world is Dillon Keenan.
Tynan Brannagh O'Cianain- His name means dark raven. He is the son of Caolainn and Cearnach and is the middle child without the middle child syndrome. He enjoys his position as one of the three; he knows his destiny and embraces it fully. By the nature of his lineage, he is a god. His ability is taking power away from his opponents and using it against them. He is deeply in love with his wife Vivi, and besides her, the only other woman he would die to protect is his little sister Kylah. Tynan is very close to Kylah. His name in the human world is Tynan Keenan.
Genevieve O'Cianain aka Vivi- Tynan’s wife and a druid priestess; she is extremely powerful and was trained personally by Brighid and Morrigan. She prefers to use her talents on the light side of magic, but she has been known to cross over and use the dark arts to assist her. In the human world, her name is Genevieve Keenan.
Kylah Aednat Brannagh O'Cianain- Her name means beautiful fire raven. Kylah is the granddaughter of Morrigan and Brighid but has no idea they are goddesses. She thinks her family is no different than anyone else’s; she sees Brighid on holidays and Morrigan whenever she is in town on business. She lives with her two brothers and her sister-in-law, Vivi in an apartment in Chelsea. She is a costume designer on a popular Broadway show and works part-time at the family bar (Keenan’s Irish Pub), but Kylah is so much more than she knows and will soon find out. In the human world she is known as Kylah Keenan. Aednat is pronounced as Ay-nit.
Note: O'Cianain is an alternative spelling for Keenan but the family chose to use the more modern version so they don’t draw attention to themselves.
Other Characters-
Olivia Batianni- She is Kylah’s best friend and neighbor. She is a spoiled Italian princess and she has no issues telling anyone that. Her brother Vincent is the underboss to one of the most feared families in New York. Both Olivia and Vincent command the respect of those around them, but Vincent is a bit lax when it comes to Kylah because he has a crush on her. He often does special things to try and win her affection despite the subtle warnings from Dillon and Tynan. Olivia’s two favorite pastimes are shopping and flirting with Dillon.
Adaira- She works as a bartender at Keenan’s. She is supernatural but the origin of her power is unknown. Not even Dillon knows what she is, but one thing for certain is no one wants to cross her. Humans are enthralled with her and will do as she wishes, but even some in the supernatural fear her abilities to control free will.
Liam- He is the leader of the Sluagh. He is a half-Seelie/half-Unseelie and the son of the Unseelie king. Liam’s background is too intricate to post at this time, but his story will unfold throughout the series.
Layne- Her name means offspring of the challenger. She is an ageless demon with immeasurable power. She has many secrets and all of them lead to her being angry and full of hate. She has only one goal and it’s not what you may think. She works as one of Liam’s commanders in order to get her closer to her objective…revenge.
Gavin- One of Liam’s loyal commanders. He is Liam’s right hand and handles all of the tasks Liam does not wish to handle personally. Gavin is an attractive man but the tattoos covering his body lends to a menacing, somewhat unnerving appearance.
The Naio (The Nine)-
Aerric Aodhan (Eric Aidan)- Aerric is a dragon phoenix, the only one of his kind. He was created by the goddesses to protect them and those they care about. Due to the fact that he was indeed "made" and not born, he knows no family other than Morrigan and Brighid. He is immortal and can only die if the ones who created him cease to exist. He does, however, have a special connection to Zephira and Nadia.
Obsydian aka Syd- He is a 2000 year old demon. He has the beauty and arrogance of a vampire and is a complete smartass. He is one of The Nine’s most ruthless fighters and their secret weapon. He wields a sword like a Viking and has the strength of a god. When his eyes change color, he has different powers. Most believe his existence is only a myth.
Calina Veles- She is a gypsy dhampire and comes from a royal bloodline. She is half gypsy/half vampire. Young but wise beyond her years and highly skilled in combat, but in the event she doesn’t want to fight, she can invoke a curse in less time than it takes to sing the first stanza of "Twinkle, twinkle little star."
Rhydderch aka Rhyder- He is a lycanthrope shifter. He turns into a seven foot blue/grey wolf. He is carefree but loves a good fight. A true ladies’ man.
Zephira & Nadia- Zephira and Nadia are the last of their kind. They are twin dragons. Before they were born they were given to Morrigan by Pandra (their mother) to be cared for and protected.
Evan O’Cainnon- He is a demi-god and Brighid’s grandson. His father, Dubhlainn O’Cianain, Brighid’s eldest son, fell in love with a human woman and lived in the human realm until she passed on. After his wife’s passing, Dubhlainn returned to Brighid’s home with Evan to teach him about the other half of his lineage. Dubhlainn was killed in a battle with the Unseelie King, Brahm. Upon his father’s passing, he took his rightful place among The
Nine. He and Dillon are close friends.
Tynan Brannagh O’Cainnon- See above.
Genevieve O’Cainnon- See above.
Coming Soon...
Look for the next novel in the Prophecies of The Nine series
Redemption
by
Brynn Myers
Available January 2013
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
