The Novira Chronicles: Prophecy Awakening

Prologue

I liked the simplicity of living in a small town, Abington, which was somewhere in the countryside of London, away from the busy city. The only thing you heard was the peaceful sound of nature and occasionally a horse that would clump by down the gravel road. The little town was all we had that you could considered a busy place, anything you needed was right there, just a walk away. Grandmother was screaming so loud, I thought she was right next to my ear, "James!, get up! I need you to go to town. "Now hurry before all the good product goes" she hollered from the bottom of the stairs. I heard her loud and clear but I didn't want to get up, for weeks I just could not get a decent amount of sleep.. something was always keeping me up, whether it was a dream, a thought, or what was worst of all, a nightmare. In my opinion, a dream and a nightmare were two different things. Dreams were something good, and nightmares were something awful. My body lagged out of bed and I prepared for another day, as I made my way down the stairs I could smell grandmother cooking up a storm, just as she always does in the morning. "Hungry dear?" "Not really, I'm just thirsty" I told her, feeling bad seeing all the trouble she went through making this big breakfast.

"You haven't been eating well lately, James, are you feeling alright?" "Yes I'm ok, just not hungry, that's all" I tried to smile and act like everything was fine, but I wasn't ok. For weeks I've been unable to sleep and I haven't said a word about it to grandmother, which was odd because I always told her everything, but I kept this to myself.
I walked over to the table and poured myself a glass of orange juice, "What are we getting from town?" "I need you to get three things; a fresh jar of honey, four lemons, and a fresh bouquet of flowers" "Aren't you coming grandmother?" I asked her, grandmother and I always went to town together when we needed to buy something. "No dear, Not today. I have somethings I need to take care of around the house". "Are you sure? Do you want me to help?" I asked, "No dear, don't be silly, I'm more than capable. Now get going, it's getting late". Grandmother opened up the drawer and took out some money, handed it to me and guided me to the front door. "Don't forget, I need honey, lemons and a fresh bouquet of flowers" "I won't" she hugged me and kissed my cheek. "Be careful dear, get what we need and then come straight home".

I walked out of the house and opened up the little gate, toward the gravel road. Although I thought it was strange that grandmother didn't come with me, I was secretly happy she didn't. Walking down the gravel road by myself, gave me a chance to clear my mind. The wind was brisk and the grass swayed back and forth. The closer I got to town the louder people sounded, I could hear the men bargaining for better prices, women talking about the latest gossip, and the laughter of children, playing.

My first stop was at Mrs. Denia's floral shop, it was a small little shop with hundreds of flowers. "Good morning James, came alone today?" Mrs. Denia asked me, "Yes, my grandmother is busy at home, so she sent me to pick up a few things" I didn't even have to ask Mrs. Denia what flowers I needed to get, she already knew. Grandmother always picked the same bouquet with her three favorite flowers; Gardenias, Roses, and Daisies. Mrs. Denia handed me the bouquet in a basket, already made. "Thank you, Mrs. Denia, you know I'll be back next week" "See you soon" she said laughing a little, I smiled and left. Mr. Bates Bake shop was right across from Mrs. Denia, I stepped inside and my heart warmed up from the smell of freshly baked bread.
"Morning, Mr. bates, how are you doing today?" he didn't answer, Mr. Bates was a very old man who couldn't hear or see very well, but he got up early every morning and did what he does best, baking. "Who's there?" he asked, "It's me Mr. Bates, James" " Ah, yes, James, come closer so I can see you" I walked up to the counter waving at him and smiling. "Where is your grandmother?" "She's at home" I told him "Well thats a shame, I always like to see her" "Sorry, I'll tell her you said hello" "Can I get you something?" "A jar of honey please" "Some What?" "Honey!" I said louder. "Oh... honey" Mr. Bates walked to the back of the shop and picked up a jar of honey. He came back with a freshly made loaf of bread, still warm from being in the oven. "I only needed honey, Mr. Bates" " I know boy, the bread is on the house, say hello to your grandmother for me, will you?" "Sure thing, thanks Mr. Bates. You have a nice day, see you next week." "Did you say something?" he looked at me, not hearing what I said, "Never mind" and I walked out.
I placed the honey and bread inside the basket and walked over to the small market in the middle of town, looking for lemons. A little old woman, Mrs. Plum was sitting at her produce stand, and I could see lemons, as I made my way toward her there was someone standing in the corner with a black cloak on. I stopped walking and stared at the man, everyone in town looked familiar but this man didn't, he was just standing there. I felt like he was waiting for me. Someone bumped into my shoulder "Watch it!" they said, "Pardon me" when I turned back in the direction of the stand, the man was gone. I approached Mrs. Plum looking confused, " Hello, James. Nice to see you." "Good morning, Mrs. Plum" " Are you okay, dear?" "Of course I'm okay Mrs. Plum" I smiled and told her I needed four lemons, she collected four nicely sized ones and put them in my basket. "By now, see you soon" I waved to her and left the market.

The walk back home seemed longer, like time was going in slow motion. I couldn't stop thinking about that mysterious man by the stand, there were so many people walking around and it looked like they didn't even notice that he was there, like I was the only one who saw him. My thoughts were interrupted and I stopped walking, the wind was picking up and I could almost hear my footsteps being echoed. I continued on my way and the echoing grew louder, I quickly turned around, looking to see who was following me but I was alone. Walking by myself never scared me but I ran the rest of the way home. I came barging in the door, giving grandmother a scare. "James, what's the matter?" "It's cold out" I didn't want to worry her, but I was telling some of the truth, it really was cold out. Summer had ended and the fall was beginning to approach us."I got what you wanted grandmother, and Mr. Bates even gave me a loaf of bread free of charge" "Oh thats lovely dear, he is such a sweet man. Come to the kitchen, I'll cut it up". Grandmother cut up the bread and unpacked everything from the basket, she pulled out the beautiful vase that she's had since before I was born, from the cabinet and placed the flowers inside.

I looked out from the kitchen window and the wind stopped, nature was calm again and the sun was shinning over everything strongly. I forgot about what I saw in town, and treated it as if it were nothing. Little did I know that I would be spending my last normal day in Abington with grandmother, my life was about to change forever.