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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781452028149 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 07/14/2010 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 348 |
| File size: | 836 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
A Touch of Immortality
A NovelBy Vivian Ditzler
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Vivian DitzlerAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-2812-5
Chapter One
Today is my first day of school. I'm finally a senior. This year I won't be the target of bullies because they consider me different. Today I'm a little excited to meet again with my old friends, the ones who love me for who I am and are somehow fascinated by my ethnicity. My family belongs to the gypsy tribe of CooperSmith and from my mother's side to the tribe of Lovell. We are a family that tries to preserve our ways in spite of the comments and criticsisms from our neighbors. We really don't care what they think about us. At least we don't move around all the time-only in the summer when school is out. We travel in our RV all around the continental US and arrive back home a week before school resumes.My name is Nadya CooperSmith and I'm seventeen years old, I'm skinny but not the athletic type. I consider myself a pretty girl with naturally tan skin, amber cat eyes, and my best feature, is my hair, black wavy long hair to my waist. I also know that I am not ordinary girl. I have the weirdest dreams. I can see and hear things others can't and I also can tell events that are going to happen. Of course, my family thinks this is completely normal considering that it is in my blood-all gypsies are born with this gift-and they believe I was born to be a Chovahani. I love my culture, but I also enjoy being a normal high school student like everybody else.
This year is going to be an unforgettable one. Without knowing what exactly destiny has prepared for me, I know something big is going to happen. The future itself has blocked this vision from me. I told my parents about it and somehow it seems to me that they know something I don't about my destiny, and it may remain a secret until I discover what it is for myself.
For now, all I care about is to get back to school and enjoy every moment. Once at the bus stop I have this weird sensation that something or someone is spying on me; it feels like a mythical creature is hiding on the other side of the street by Mrs. Palmer's yard. I try to look but at that moment the bus arrives. Maybe it is my imagination that lately is confusing and intriguing. I can hear the commotion inside the bus and my heart starts to pound with happiness when I see the faces of my loyal friends. Susan Davis is my best friend and confidant, she knows all my secrets and I know hers. Her blonde hair to her shoulders moves hysterically as she waves at me; her light brown eyes with a hint of green flash with excitement against her fair skin. Her boyfriend Patrick Jenkins is sitting next to her like a piece of bubble gum; that is predictable. He is the captain of the swimming team, tall, athletic with honey blonde hair and dark blue eyes. Gloria Lambert and Samantha Moore both smile at me. Gloria is pale white with dark, dark hair and bright red highlights; her dark eyes match the hair giving the appearance of a Gothic creature, but she is a total nerd with an edge. Samantha's bronze skin is smooth and radiant; her brown eyes flicker with unawareness. I notice that her curly brown hair got longer during the summer; she has enough hair to fill up three heads if that were possible.
"How was your summer? Did you have fun?" the duet ask simultaneously,
"Oh, it was great; we went on a long road trip to meet with more relatives I didn't know," I said, hugging my beloved Gypsy Freak Club.
"Bet this time you dressed up like a real gypsy and went wild stealing and lying like all of your kind," Jacob Webster replied laughing with his buddies from the bully club.
Jacob is cute, slender, with light brown hair, exotic lips, and light blue eyes, but a complete jerk-a total waste on this planet.
"The answer is yes; I dress up like the gypsy I am and no, we don't steal or lie like wild things, you jerk," I said grinning, and before he could say anything else I told him, "Beware you moron, because I'm coming of age to put a nice spell on you and Amria you with the best outcome for my satisfaction. In case you wonder, that means curse, you idiot." Everybody in the bus started to laugh. Jacob and his gang turned red and Jacob gave me the look but was silenced by the bus driver when he cut through the commotion asking us to get out of his bus; we were at school.
"Way to go! Nadya, that's a lesson for those jerks," Gloria told me, patting my shoulder.
"I've had enough of his insults to your culture and they haven't done anything wrong in this town to anyone, for those bullies to have the right to judge your family the way they do," Susan said with a great sense of annoyance.
"Hey people, calm down. I don't care whatever his intentions are and anyway I had fun with him," I said, unflustered.
We walked to school talking about our experiences from the summer and honestly, Susan and Patrick had a boring summer all to themselves. I don't think I'm ready for a serious relationship if you only have twenty four hours a day and need to spend thirty or more hours with your loved one. Nope, I'm not falling for any guy this year; I'm looking forward to adventure and lots of freedom. I'm safe because so far the guys in this school are pretty much complete idiots; thankfully I'm not interested in any of this bunch of losers. Love for me has to wait until college.
At least at this school in the little town of Riverside, somewhere in New England we don't have fashion drama because we have to wear uniforms-A new rule that the PTA established a year ago. Maybe those parents that wanted to pretend their children were attending a private school, which in reality they couldn't have afforded, felt a sense of pride sending their children in uniforms to a public high school. Of course, you always have the beauty squad for whom the limitations of the pleated blue skirt, and the white polo shirt, the navy blue vest with the school logo on the left side, the same black Mary Janes, and the knee high socks were overcome. These girls, the popular ones, always managed to make their uniforms look better than the rest of us.
My first class was Statistics or should I call it Sadistics. I hate math; no matter how much I study, aiming for a perfect score, in the end I always get mediocre grades. While I was waiting for the class, sitting on the floor of the corridor, I was thinking of a strategy to pass this subject that I detested so much that I knew it would cause as great a headache as being struck by lightning. I have to pass this class to graduate even if is against my will. I heard the giggles of some girls and the answer to my uncertainty was obvious as soon as I lifted my eyes. I saw the fantastic duet, my friends Gloria and Samantha; they were the math geniuses of the entire senior class, among other subjects. They behave like girls in the beginning of puberty and it only happens when a certain male (Sir Anthony) approaches, so I didn't pay attention until all the girls around me started with the same infantile behavior. I turned my head to look at the catalyst and to my surprise, it was a complete stranger, a new student that was joining us for the last year of high school! I was transfixed by his looks; it was as if he came from a photo in a magazine. The stranger was tall, good looking, and more muscular than an average guy of his age. You could tell he spent long hours at the gym; his blonde silky hair looked like it trapped the sunshine in every single strand. His facial outline were strong and husky with sky blue eyes and fine lips. His smooth skin had a rosy appearance and he smelled very good with a soft masculine aroma that was hypnotizing every girl in the corridor. No love at first sight, but I have to admit that his masculinity and beauty awakened my curiosity to the opposite sex for the first time.
"Oh my God! Look at that creature," Samantha said almost in a whisper. I stood next to the duet to gather some info about this guy.
"Do you know him?" I asked.
"I heard his family moved from Chicago a couple of weeks ago, and he is an only child," Gloria said.
"I'm so glad he's in our class, but I don't think I can concentrate with this almost perfect god, though," Samantha said with her giggles.
"Do you know where he lives; I don't recall seeing him around."
"Hum! Someone sounds very interested!" "I heard they moved to a big house by Lake Boon, almost in Sudbury," Gloria told me, her tone almost demanding an explanation.
"For your information Gloria I'm not interested in anybody, I was just curious about this new development," I answered, trying to defend myself.
As always I was saved by the bell; the class started to get their favorite seats. I preferred the back, considering this class torture. I started laughing to myself with the movement of the chairs; every girl in the classroom was fighting to leave an empty seat so the gorgeous newcomer would be as close as possible to one of them, but in the end he sat next to me in the back and away from all the predators. Samantha looked back with her mouth gaping open and Gloria smiled a suspicious grin. I totally ignored them both for being so silly.
The class started and I could feel the pain in my head with all the work ahead of us in this tormented subject. When I peaked at the stranger, because my curiosity was killing me, he was looking in my direction and with a sweet smile, he asked my name. I was paralyzed for a moment.
"My ... name ... is ... Nadya CooperSmith and yours?"
"Hi Nadya, I'm Walther Boswell," he said with a pleasing voice. "I'm glad at least to get to know someone in this school. I just moved here and I don't know anybody so far."
"Well, welcome to this little town, trust me you will get to know the entire town of Riverside in no time at all."
He smiled and then replied.
"Can I sit with you and your friends at lunch? It will be less embarrassing than being by myself."
I thought that this guy with these looks; how could he be embarrassed, please. I said,
"Sure, I understand that being the new kid on the block you become the juicy news that every person in this school, in particular the female kind, will want to get their hands on."
He started laughing and the entire class looked at us in astonishment, including Mr. Stewart.
"Ok, thanks," he responded smiling.
I on the contrary felt as big as a bean in front of my classmates. At the end of class, as I expected Gloria and Samantha were outside waiting to hear all the details of our conversation. Of course, I gave them the best news in years, the gorgeous creature would be sitting with us at lunch. They were extremely happy with what I had accomplished.
My classes in the morning were fine but I never expected that senior year would bring so much homework, especially on the first day. Lunchtime was entertaining, Walther sat with us at the table, while the feminine crowd watched like vultures trying to set a trap with caution and sharp gestures to the point of hysteria. It was fascinating, looking at the way they twitched their faces. We spent most of our time making fun of the onlookers and their erratic behaviors. We gave all of our insights to Walther about the school population and the people that he needed to be aware of.
"Hey! Are you going to sign up for Mr. LeBlanc's Language Club?" James Laird asked me. James is one of my classmates in French; he is a peculiar guy, skinny looking and weird.
"I haven't taken the class yet James," I said.
"He posted the sign on the bulletin board this morning; you should sign up, 'cause we will have a trip to Paris at the end of school year. That is awesome! I already put my name on it. He will only give the opportunity to all the students in his French class. Spaces are limited," James said with excitement.
"I'm taking that class, where is this paper? Nadya, sign up, it will be fun," Walther interrupted, eager to convince me.
I looked at Susan confused and she said.
"We are taking that class too; of course we will sign up. Patrick this is the best opportunity, both of us in the city of love!" Obviously that wasn't the respond that I expected from her. She would have to explain later.
Patrick and Walther stood up, and both looked at Susan and me. Patrick said,
"Let's go girls; we have a few minutes to sign our names before lunch time is up."
"This isn't fair; we can't participate in this club," Gloria and Samantha said with much dissatisfaction.
"Sorry girls, see you later," Patrick answered like a buffon.
We left the cafeteria with all the nagging eyes following us from the crowd behind. All four of us signed our names for the club; our first meeting would be on Thursday after school.
The day went by fast; it was time to get the bus back home when I saw in the parking lot that Walther was driving a black BMW only two seats. There was no doubt that his family was rich; what I couldn't understand was, why they moved to this little town so far away from the big city, unless they wanted to escape from the craziness. That sounded like a good explanation, I don't know; anyway if they are able to afford a BMW for their only son, why wasn't he in a private school? I kept trying to read this guy and somehow I couldn't. He is a complete mystery but I have to consider the fact that I haven't being able to hear or see anything about anyone in the last few weeks, not even a dream. Everything is blank and empty; it feels almost awkward because this is part of my existence and is natural to me; not having this gift is like not being myself.
I decided I will tell mom about it; she understands me and may come up with some logical reasons. Unfortunately these are matters that you cannot solve by going to the doctor; they will probably think you're mental. Walther waves a simple good bye to us, his new group of friends. Who could say why this gorgeous specimen, who could be the next prom king and extremely popular, was hanging around with a small group of average seniors, not knowing that one of the members (me) was out of the ordinary. Maybe he will freak out when he discovers my ethnicity and the special gifts that I possess. I will give him a few weeks before he finds out and rejects me, like most of the students do, when they discover that I am a gypsy.
* * *
Once I made it home, my mom had dinner almost ready.
"Wow mom, you came early from work today," I say absorbing all the wonderful smells from the kitchen.
I knew we'd be having brownies for dessert. We were alone in the house my dad still at work, so I took the opportunity to ask her about my sudden changes. My mother, Lilura Lovell is beautiful beyond this world; she looks so young that people used to think that she was my sister; the worst is when my parents go out, people think they are father and daughter and you don't want to know my father's reaction every time, especially since they both are the same age. My mother is a Chovahani, she tells me Svatas about our ancestors and tries to educate me about reading other peoples' future, simple magic spells, and all the details about plants and their uses. She also teaches me how to make charms and amulets. I always enjoy her teachings, but still I need to learn much more complicated matters. My interest remains in the practice of love spells; those are the most popular, and the most solicited in my school.
"Mom we need to talk," I say.
"What's going on, you look concerned did you have trouble at school today?" she says in her soft voice while mixing a dressing for the potatoes.
"No, school was fine, we have a new guy and to everybody's surprise he joined my circle of friends. My problem is about myself. I don't know what's happening to me, but since a few weeks ago I haven't being able to hear or see anything, I haven't had any dreams at all. My mind is dark, complete blankness." I tell her. She looks at me very concerned,
"Why are you telling me this now Nadya? You should have told me as soon as you were experiencing this abnormality."
"But mom how should I know this is not normal, is this bad?" I say feeling uneasy. She takes a deep breath, stops what she is doing, and looks me in the eyes with a penetrating, almost intimidating expression.
"Nadya listen to me very carefully; your father doesn't approve me telling this; he has always tried to protect you from our past, but these changes are signs that a Prikasa is close. You probably crossed paths with it or you are about to."
"STOP MOM! You're scaring me, what's going on, what are you talking about," I panic, mom hugs me and adds,
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Touch of Immortality by Vivian Ditzler Copyright © 2010 by Vivian Ditzler. Excerpted by permission.
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