Lark's End Read online

  The Fall of Gadaie Series

  LARK’S END

  Novel One

  Christina Leigh Pritchard

  www.christinaleighpritchard.com

  Copyright © 1989-2019 Christina Leigh Pritchard All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 9781976279782

  Under Copyright Law: No part of this publication may be reproduced,

  stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any

  means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or

  otherwise (except for brief quotation in printed or digital review)

  without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  NOTICE: This story is a work of fiction. All characters

  in this story are fictitious, unless otherwise stated in the

  ending credits. Any resemblance to an actual

  person is coincidental.

  Book One

  LARK’S END

  The Fall of Gadaie Series

  Mary wants to kill them.

  But someone stands in her way…

  The first of nine books in the epic fantasy series

  The Fall of Gadaie

  WWW.GADAIE.COM

  Please visit the interactive blog gadaie.com for maps,

  character/place indexes and illustrations by

  Omaik Digital Art.

  Book Reviews

  The world of Lark's End is topsy-turvy...I admit that I was prepared to be confused and disappointed when I started reading this story. Shifts of location left me feeling lost and for a YA book the language seemed too simplistic. After the first couple of chapters I was comfortable feeling lost. And very grateful for the language. By the middle of the book I was breathless keeping up with the journey of the companions. Far from being simplistic, Lark's End requires your full attention to follow the dream-like transformations and fast-paced movement...After reading Lark's End, I don't think there would be any trouble getting your YA to read Kafka or Borges.

  -Speculative Salon Reviews

  Lark's End: Whoa, I knew you had a good imagination, but Lark's End was outrageously creative. At first, I wasn't sure that I would like it, it seemed a bit far out there, but I loved it. It reminded me of worlds created like Alice in Wonderland or C.S. Lewis's Narnia. You are a great author/storyteller. The world you created with all the wonderful creatures (my favorite being the stars) was so captivating. I can't wait to find this book and buy it for my kids. I really do have such respect for your talent as a writer. C I N was a book for me... Lark's End is a book for everyone, children and adults can both enjoy it. I was amazed and I can't wait to find out what happens next... People that love to get lost in a book that can transport them to a fabulous new world are going to cherish Lark's End.

  -Goodreads Member -- Dione Sage

  Here is another series by Pritchard that is filled with twists and turns as the plot races along. Tahmi is trying to figure out who she really is, as well as many other secrets. Pay close attention along the ride, so that you can keep up with what is going on!

  -Andi's Young Adult Reviews

  Full of mystery and intrigue, imagination and creativity, Lark's End is for all fans of Alice of Wonderland, C.S. Lewis' Nania and J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

  -Emily Yu of Anything in Fantasy

  I can say that I enjoyed it very much from start to end…I recommend Lark’s End to all fantasy fans, upper middle graders and young adults alike. I can’t wait the rest of the books in this series!

  -I Heart Reading blog

  DEDICATION

  Special thanks to Mark Johnson & Valentina Cano, who edited this novel, every writer I’ve ever read, since they were my inspirations when just a child, and thanks to my Beta Readers, T. Adrienne, Irene P., Maggie P., Alicia R., Sam C. and Kristina S. I appreciate all your help and assistance!

  I also want to thank Omaik for working with me for over a year and half on creating my fantasy world! His first response: “This is a very strange world, but I’ll draw the pictures for you.” I’m so happy you did, thanks, Omaik!

  FAMILY TREE

  (Simplied family tree. For more information on the various worlds, species and characters, visit gadaie.com)

  Father

  Lily and Alex (adopted children), Mary (biological daughter)

  Mary

  Stahme

  (son)

  Emihe & Maryanne

  (Stahme’s daughters and Mary’s granddaughters)

  Maryanne

  Chrysmys, Melissa, Diane, Teri and Tahmi

  (daughters)

  Tahmi

  Mother: Maryanne, Emihe: Aunt, Grandfather: Stahme, & Mary: great-grandmother

  Chrysmys, Melissa, Diane and Teri

  (her sisters)

  Earth Family Tree

  Tahmi’s Earth Parents: Donna and Charles

  Tahmi’s missing aunt: Maya (Donna’s sister)

  Best friend: Andy

  Andy’s Parents: Peg and David

  In Mary’s defense, she wasn’t always this way. She was their heroine; the one they looked up to.

  To be completely honest, if she wasn’t in so much pain maybe she wouldn’t cause so much ruin…

  Several children and animals sit in cramped cages. To Father, they are merely test subjects, but to Mary they’re her family and friends.

  “Mary,” Alex whispered. He sat in the cell next to hers. “What’re ya reading?”

  She didn’t respond. Her eyes stayed glued to the pages of The Wizard of Oz. She inched forward, reading each word with passion and excitement. Her skin was pale and her eyes a light blue, unlike the eyes of her brothers and sisters. Everyone else had glowing green eyes. Maybe from the chemicals their father injected into them, maybe from the changes their bodies were experiencing. She liked the fact that her eyes were normal. It meant she was safe from father. He didn’t experiment on her as much. She was a dud according to him; unchangeable.

  “Mary,” Alex said again. “Read to me please. I’m scared. Father says today is gonna be my day. He says he’s going to really change me this time.”

  She looked up. Alex was a few years older, maybe ten with sandy brown hair. His eyes used to be brown as mud but that was before father took him into the back room.

  “I’ll read to you,” Mary said, turning the pages back to the beginning. “How is it I know how to read and you don’t?”

  “I never went to school for very long,” he answered.

  “I’ve never gone to school.”

  “Well, I remember some words, like that sign up above the door it says ‘exit’. That’s what I’d like to do. Escape through the exit.”

  “Do you want to escape with me, Alex?”

  “Mary, if I could get out of here then I’d never come back, never ever.”

  “Who would I play with then?” She frowned. “I hope you never escape.”

  “That’s selfish.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Just read something to me, Mary.”

  “What if we both were able to escape?” She leaned her forehead against the bars, intertwining her fingers with the metal. “Would you stay with me forever, then?”

  “I dunno.” Alex yawned. “I want to hear something, to keep my mind off what father has planned for me. Tell me about that world of yours.”

  “The only way to get into Gadaie is across the golden bridge.” She closed her eyes. “You have to swim through Merworld where the merloonies live.”

  “The what?” Alex scratched his head. “What’s a merloonie?”

  “Remember that Peter Pan book I read you, the one with the mermaids?” Mary grinned. “Well, the Merloonies are like those mermaids. They’re half fish half loonie.”

  “Wha
t’s a loonie?”

  “My very own people, or subjects, I guess. They love me and will do anything I ask of them. I love them, too.”

  “So now you’re a queen?” Alex laughed. “Oh Mary, you’ve got some imagination.”

  “I wish they were real,” Mary admitted. She lay down on the cement bench. It cooled her cheek. He patted her on the shoulder through the bars.

  “I wish it was real, too. Then I would run away with you and I’d live in that Funhouse Zone you told me about.”

  Mary sat up. “Would you live in one of my mushroom homes?”

  “Sure, why not?” Alex grinned. “I think taking a rollercoaster to each home is kinda a cool way to get around.”

  “I know!” Mary giggled, “And last week I decided there should be a place called Candy Lane like that game they advertised in the back of The Neverending Story.”

  “I wish Father would let us play games.” He sighed. “That would help pass the time.”

  “I like reading.”

  “Well, I guess if I knew how, I would read, too.”

  “I don’t think father would let you read. He says he has plans for you.”

  Alex walked away to the other end of his cell. “I don’t want to talk about what Father has planned for me.”

  “Stop all the noise.” Lily growled. She sat in a rusted cage across the aisle between two wolves and an orangutan. Aquariums filled with mice ran on wheels up above Lily’s head. She brushed her hands through her blonde hair. “Mary, go to sleep. Put those silly books down and stop dreaming. Life’s not a fairytale.”

  “Okay, Mother.” Mary lay back and stared at the grey wall. Water seeped through a tiny crack. It dripped down, splattering against her forehead. How could anything, even water, want to enter this place? “Mom,” she said. “Did you love him?”

  Lily hid her face in between her knees. “No.” Who would?

  “Nor did I love her.” Father stomped into the lab, his white cloak flapping. “You were supposed to be my prodigy. But Mary, you’re just a dud; a useless financial expense to me. If you don’t produce results soon, I’ll have to eliminate you.”

  Mary’s heart pounded. Would he really kill her; his own flesh and blood?

  Lily jumped, stretching her hands outside the bars. “I’ll kill you if you try to hurt my daughter!”

  “You could never hurt me. I’m your father—your creator.”

  “I’d love to kill you.” Lily growled. “It would make me very happy.”

  Father stood in front of Lily’s cell with his hands on his hips. “That’s the spirit. The angrier you become the more you change. I can’t wait to see the final results.”

  “Leave her alone!” Mary screamed. “I hate you!” Her small face smashed against the bars and her fingers gripped firmly around them.

  “Relax child.” Father rolled his eyes. “Alex is who I’m working on today.” He unlocked the cell and grabbed the boy by the arm.

  “No, I don’t want to go!” Alex cried. “Let me go. Stop. Lily, make him stop.”

  Lily covered her face and sobbed. “I’m so sorry, Alex.” What could she do? She was trapped in a cell like everyone else.

  “Mom.” Mary’s lip quivered. “Why don’t you stop father? You’re the oldest.”

  “I’m only eighteen.” Lily rocked back and forth. Every time father experimented on one of them, she was who they called to for help. Was it her fault?

  “No!” Mary wiped her eyes. She watched Father drag Alex away into the dark. The other children cried, too. A dozen of them begged Father to release Alex.

  Father set the young boy on a metal table. He held him down with leather hand and leg cuffs. “Father, please!” Alex jerked about. “It hurts, the changes always hurt.”

  He held a long needle in his hand. Father flicked the instrument and a light green liquid seeped out. Alex thrashed about, his heart pounding. “No!”

  Father jabbed the needle into Alex’s ten-year-old hip. “This batch will work. Alex, you will be amazing!”

  “Let him go!”

  “Father, please!”

  “Alex is the perfect test subject. His DNA is easy to alter. He adapts best to changes. He’s nearly perfect in every way.” Father frowned when his eyes set on Lily. “Lily, I always thought so much of you. But, that child you gave me is not working out. I’m afraid I’ll have to trash her.”

  “You will not!” Lily twitched. Her body convulsed. She stood on her knees and rested against her palms. What was happening to her?

  “What’s happening to my mom?” Mary cried. She recoiled into the corner of her cell.

  Lily’s skin ripped. Long legs protruded out of her hip bone and shoulders. A thorax burst its way through her back. She screamed. “What’s happening to me?”

  Mary covered her ears. “MOMMY!” She rocked back and forth. “Mom, not my mom. Don’t die, don’t die.”

  “It’s happening!” Father exclaimed. He hurried over to Lily’s cage. “The experiment worked. My girl is changing! They thought I was mad. MAD! But, I knew all along that I could do it. If this one works then all of my experiments will work.” He turned into Mary’s direction and pointed at the little girl. “That means you get to live.”

  People of the future believe in a green world. They live in homes made of recycled materials and rarely use handwritten documents. Money is completely electronic and hospitals are highly advanced. Most cars and cities are green and take full advantage of technology. That is, except for dinosaurs like Peg and David…

  MANY, MANY YEARS LATER ON EARTH

  “Well,” Charles tapped on the door. “What’s the verdict?” He was young and scrawny. His hair was dark and stuck up sometimes. His eyes were gentle and his hands soft. That was because he chose to go to college to be a banker instead of follow in his Father’s footsteps. His dad had been a farmer; a poor, overworked farmer. He ran far away from that life. Who wanted to fix mechanical mules and watch heat sensors for pests? Not him. Charles was just nineteen and a bank teller right now—he still had another two years of school left; it was far better than that sort of life.

  Donna sat on the toilet seat in the bathroom. She took the pregnancy scanner and watched the LED light move up and down her stomach. They’d been trying for months. Her light brown hair fell around her tiny face. She was two years older than her husband. She’d started college late. Ever since her parents died, she’d spent her time raising her sister. But, six months ago Maya ran off, Donna didn’t know what to do with herself at first. And, finding a kind husband like Charles who welcomed a teenager so easily was difficult. Did Maya dislike her life? Donna could’ve sworn her sister and husband got along fine. But today, Maya wasn’t what bothered her most. It was the results on her pregnancy scanner. Results: non-fertilized; that’s what it said. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. Not again.

  She wanted a child; just one. She’d dreamed her whole life about having a daughter who she could dress up in fancy clothes, enter into beauty pageants, and wouldn’t it be grand to teach her the family’s secret recipes. Oh, how she wished she could’ve passed those on to her sister, too. But the officer said it wasn’t likely they’d ever see Maya again. She was gone. Her sixteen-year-old sister was probably dead. And Donna could not get pregnant.

  “Donna, my dear, please tell me.” Charles rested his head against the wooden door. He’d do anything for a child. Having Maya in his life made him happy. He’d never thought about having kids at first. He was glad Donna had a sister. He figured she’d be content with just him when Maya went off to college. After all, as silly as it may sound, when he’d married last year what he really wanted was rims for his car, but now he yearned for a daughter of his own.

  “No.”

  “No, as in no you’re not pregnant?” Charles swallowed. A tear trickled down his cheek. “We’ll just try again.”

  “No!” Donna sobbed. She tossed the pregnancy scanner against the wall.

  “Malfunction,” the dev
ice slurred.

  “Shut up!” She kicked it. The scanner broke. Pieces of metal scattered on the tile floor. Charles unlocked the door, grabbed his tiny wife, and held her in his arms as tight as he could. “I’m tired, Charles.”

  “Have a little faith, my Donna, and things will work out,” he whispered, kissing her cheek. “We’re good people and good things will come to us soon.”

  “How can you know that?” She buried her face in his shirt. “Nothing but pain and loss comes my way. First my parents, then my sister and now I can’t get pregnant. I’ll never be a mother!”

  Ding.

  Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

  “Who could that be?” Charles climbed to his feet. “Don’t they know it’s rude to hit the bell that many times?”

  “I’m coming with you,” Donna said. She welcomed the break. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about how she couldn’t have a baby.

  They hurried down the carpeted steps.

  Ding.

  “Just a second,” Charles called. “Almost there.” He unlocked the door.

  David, his next-door neighbor, was sweating profusely and his red hair stuck to his forehead. “M-My wife, she’s having the baby,” he stammered. “I’m going to be a Father!”

  Charles bit his lip. “Congratulations.” He didn’t mean it. At least not at the moment. His wife just finished crying in the bathroom about being barren. In a way, he envied David. His dad owned a construction company and paid him pretty well—no college loans for him to pay off—then he married his childhood sweetheart and now he was going to have a child. A child; something Charles and Donna couldn’t seem to have.

  David dragged Charles out of the house and across the lawn. “I need your help. Come—come with me to the hospital; you can video tape the birth of my daughter!”