THE DESCENDANTS
Book One
Over two thousand years ago a tragedy, which was long foretold, echoed across the desert land of Judah. As the eldest brother looked down with eyes covered with blood at his four younger brothers, images of each one of their descendant's flashed through his mind. Just before he cried out with his last agonizing breath, a soft smile crossed his lips as he saw the faces of the four who would be destined for greatness, the ones who would come together, and possibly change the world.
Rachel Liam only had one wish for her sweet sixteenth birthday, to maybe perhaps be a little more popular than her A+ nerd social status at school, and maybe actually go on a date with Jimmy Dodson the captain of the baseball team. When a mysterious package arrived exactly at the time of which Rachel was born sixteen years ago, she could only hope it's from a secret fairy godmother. Instead of magical fairy dust, Rachel received an ancient book, which would turn her world upside down. However Rachel isn't the only one trying to figure out the meaning of her destiny. A group known as the "Dark Ones" who vowed over two thousand years ago to put an end to the rising hope, and create a world full of darkness and hate are seeking the descendants. With the help of her best friend Kyle Adams, and her grandmother, she must come to terms with who she is, and more importantly, she must find the courage of stopping the Dark Ones, before it's too late. This is the story of Rachel Liam a girl destined for greatness. |
EXCERPT from THE DESCENDANTS
Chapter אחד (One)
Coming of Age
Have you ever had a dream that felt so real that when you woke up, you were a little confused? For the past week I've had the same dream over and over again, don't ask me why because I have no idea. It all started when my parents were asking me what I wanted for my birthday, my sweet sixteen birthday. A day that most people look forward to, almost a coming of age or a rite of passage into the adult world. When I thought about the little presents that I could want, I decided on one thing that I would want most of all, and that's when the dreams started.
"Rach if you don't hurry up I'm going to leave you!" I heard my older brother, Josh call from downstairs. He could be so impatient, but then again if I was a senior in high school and I had to drive my little sister around everywhere I guess I would be too.
I quickly got up, and began getting dressed. It never took me long, maybe it was something that I actually learned from Josh, I just threw on clothes, maybe comb my hair, and brushed my teeth and I was good. No one ever noticed the way I looked. The plain jane mixed girl of middle eastern descent. I had an olive complexion, with dark wavy hair, and the bigger Jewish nose to prove I had my mother's middle eastern side within me. Yet then there were my, what my mother like to say, "striking blue eyes" that I got straight from my dad's German side. I guess I could be pretty if I wanted to be, some have said that I am, but what's the point? What's the point in putting on make up or dressing up when no one really saw that I existed beside my parents and best friend Kyle.
"Bye Rach!" I heard Josh call from downstairs, as I flew open my bedroom door and ran down to grab my lunch.
"Sorry, Sorry. See you later Mom." I said over and over again, as I rushed out the door, my mom trying to tell me something as I completely ran passed her by the door.
"You too be careful, and have a good day. Oh and Happy Birthday Rachel!" She called out from the front door as Josh and I began getting into his car.
"Thanks." I said softly, I really didn't like celebrating my birthday, all the attention being on me, it felt weird. Maybe it's because I wasn't used to it. I just had to get through today without many people finding out that today's my birthday. I've had random pranks pulled on me before, but if a certain group knew that today was my birthday, my sweet sixteen, I'm sure they would make it a living nightmare for me.
I looked out the window the other cars and building flying passed us as we drove to school, my brother and I were close at times, but ever since he had gotten his new car, things have been different. I barely saw him, and when I did we barely spoke. Things were just becoming different, which made a flash of my dream cross my mind.
"We're here." He said as he pulled into his parking spot. I looked over at him, and took a deep breath as I opened the door. This was it, only eight hours to go before I could be safe at home. As we began walking we eventually got separated when a group of his friends caught up with him.
"Hey Rach, if I don't see you later, Happy Birthday!" He called out, making me turn red as several more of his friends began wishing me a happy birthday. I just prayed softly that no one else would remember.
"Well, it's about time. I was worry you were going to play sick again like every year." I heard my best friend Kyle Adams say as I quickly approached the benches in the school courtyard. A spot we had been meeting since freshman year, when we realized it was the quickest route to our classes, and hardly anyone waited there. You could say Kyle was more of a nerd than I was, yet he had better social skills than me, and seemed to be friends with a lot of people. So, when I wasn't around him I didn't mix well with the other students, especially with the jock crowd. Most schools around here didn't really have a social class problem within the school, however WE did, and I was probably the bottom of the food chain.
"Hey so, don't get mad but I got you something." Kyle said as he distracted my thoughts as he gave me a wrapped gift.
"Kyle...." I started to complain. He knew my rule about presents and especially in public.
"I know, I know, but just open it. Then you can put it in your bag the rest of the day, and no one will know that today is your Birth...." He started to say, as I cut him off with pressing my hand over his mouth.
"Fine." I said as I began opening the small wrapped gift. Then I saw it, it was beautiful, but a little antique looking, it was perfect. I thought as I held the gold bracelet up and watched the jewels glisten in the morning sun. It was beautiful.
"Oh my gosh, Kyle! Where? How? You shouldn't have! This must've cost a fortune. I can't accept this." I said as I regretfully began giving it back to him. As much as I loved it, I couldn't take such an expensive gift, not when I knew how much Kyle worked. He worked two jobs outside of school. One was at the local grocery store as the bag boy, and then he tutored a few middle schoolers a few days a week.
"Yes you will take it Rachel Liam and you will wear it! I saw it and I instantly knew it was meant for you." He said with a smile as he helped me put it on. I smiled, which only he could ever get the biggest smile from me. This was a very thoughtful gift, one that I would treasure the rest of my life.
"Oh thank you Kyle. I love it." I said as I gave him a hug.
"Oh well you don't y'all look adorable." I heard the high pitched sounds of Nancy Pilmore's voice ring out, and then the sounds of her group of groupies laugh behind her, making the snide comments along side her.
"Oh can't you leave her alone for one day, especially today." Kyle said as he stood up in front of me. Oh no Kyle don't say it. Don't tell them. I begged in my mind.
"Oh I don't know about that, it's pretty much my coffee rush for the morning, it helps get me going." She said with an evil smirk. Ugh just once I wish she would get a taste of her own medicine. I thought to myself, as I looked down at the ground, avoiding her eyes.
"Oh come on, you can't leave a girl to celebrate her birthday with at least one decent friend, and not get harassed by ignorant people like you for one day?" He spat out as I knew his blood was beginning to boil. Kyle you shouldn't have. I thought as my face turned red.
"Awww today's your birthday? What so your sixteen! Well Kyle, I'd say if you wanted her to celebrate her birthday with at least one friend, then your out of luck. She's pretty pathetic, I mean it's a shame you take pity on her, and just because it's her birthday doesn't mean you have to be extra nice to her, I mean it'll probably overwhelm her. Isn't that right Rach?" She said as I felt tears beginning to slide from my eyes.
"That's enough Nancy." I heard the wonderful sounds of Jimmy's voice ring out from behind me.
"What, we weren't doing anything. Just wishing Rachel here a Happy Birthday, and she got all emotional. Isn't that right?" She said as she glared at me to agree. I could only slowly nod.
"Yeah I'm sure. Anyway Zach is looking for you." He said as he came around looking at my red face, and began to get Nancy and her crew away from me.
"Come on girls, enough celebrating for the moment, we can continue this later, after all today is a very very special day." She said with a snicker.
"Are you alright?" Jimmy asked for a second. He and I were next door neighbors all of our lives, and he and my brother were good friends. When we were younger, we would always play hide and seek and talk for hours in my tree house. That was until he started going to baseball camp during the summers, and the start of high school we barely spoke. He was the gorgeous, captain of the baseball team, and I was the loser nerd girl from next door, and his friends made that perfectly clear.
"Yeah I'm fine, thanks." I said as I got up, hearing the bell sound for the start of first period.
"Well, here, I remembered today was your birthday, I was actually coming to find you to give it to you. Sorry about Nancy." He said as he handed me a small wrapped gift.
"Thanks, and don't worry about Nancy, I can handle it." I said as I began to open it quickly. Revealing the soundtrack to Wicked, one of my most favorite Broadway shows. He remembered. I thought silently to myself.
"Thanks Jim. I love it." I said as I began opening the card next.
"No open that later, we don't have time here. I'll see you tonight at your party alright. Happy Birthday Rach." He said as he ran off to catch up with his friends that were waiting for him at the school's entrance.
"Wow, Wicked...I didn't know he had it in him." I heard Kyle say condescendingly.
"Oh Kyle stop it would you. It's a nice gift. Both of your gifts are amazing. Thank you again." I said to Kyle as I put the CD and the card in my backpack, then held out my wrist for Kyle to help me put on the beautiful bracelet he had just given me.
"Well, sorry that Nancy had to go and ruin the morning fun. I need to head on to class but catch ya at lunch?" He asked as the bell rung and he started to walk towards the direction of his first class.
"Yeah, see ya." I smiled, knowing that's what he needed to see in order to stop apologizing for Nancy's daily routine of trying to ruin my life.
As the day went by, I became so caught up in my classes and the work, that I nearly forgot about the card until I was trying to find my calculator for my AP-Pre Calculus class.
Coming of Age
Have you ever had a dream that felt so real that when you woke up, you were a little confused? For the past week I've had the same dream over and over again, don't ask me why because I have no idea. It all started when my parents were asking me what I wanted for my birthday, my sweet sixteen birthday. A day that most people look forward to, almost a coming of age or a rite of passage into the adult world. When I thought about the little presents that I could want, I decided on one thing that I would want most of all, and that's when the dreams started.
"Rach if you don't hurry up I'm going to leave you!" I heard my older brother, Josh call from downstairs. He could be so impatient, but then again if I was a senior in high school and I had to drive my little sister around everywhere I guess I would be too.
I quickly got up, and began getting dressed. It never took me long, maybe it was something that I actually learned from Josh, I just threw on clothes, maybe comb my hair, and brushed my teeth and I was good. No one ever noticed the way I looked. The plain jane mixed girl of middle eastern descent. I had an olive complexion, with dark wavy hair, and the bigger Jewish nose to prove I had my mother's middle eastern side within me. Yet then there were my, what my mother like to say, "striking blue eyes" that I got straight from my dad's German side. I guess I could be pretty if I wanted to be, some have said that I am, but what's the point? What's the point in putting on make up or dressing up when no one really saw that I existed beside my parents and best friend Kyle.
"Bye Rach!" I heard Josh call from downstairs, as I flew open my bedroom door and ran down to grab my lunch.
"Sorry, Sorry. See you later Mom." I said over and over again, as I rushed out the door, my mom trying to tell me something as I completely ran passed her by the door.
"You too be careful, and have a good day. Oh and Happy Birthday Rachel!" She called out from the front door as Josh and I began getting into his car.
"Thanks." I said softly, I really didn't like celebrating my birthday, all the attention being on me, it felt weird. Maybe it's because I wasn't used to it. I just had to get through today without many people finding out that today's my birthday. I've had random pranks pulled on me before, but if a certain group knew that today was my birthday, my sweet sixteen, I'm sure they would make it a living nightmare for me.
I looked out the window the other cars and building flying passed us as we drove to school, my brother and I were close at times, but ever since he had gotten his new car, things have been different. I barely saw him, and when I did we barely spoke. Things were just becoming different, which made a flash of my dream cross my mind.
"We're here." He said as he pulled into his parking spot. I looked over at him, and took a deep breath as I opened the door. This was it, only eight hours to go before I could be safe at home. As we began walking we eventually got separated when a group of his friends caught up with him.
"Hey Rach, if I don't see you later, Happy Birthday!" He called out, making me turn red as several more of his friends began wishing me a happy birthday. I just prayed softly that no one else would remember.
"Well, it's about time. I was worry you were going to play sick again like every year." I heard my best friend Kyle Adams say as I quickly approached the benches in the school courtyard. A spot we had been meeting since freshman year, when we realized it was the quickest route to our classes, and hardly anyone waited there. You could say Kyle was more of a nerd than I was, yet he had better social skills than me, and seemed to be friends with a lot of people. So, when I wasn't around him I didn't mix well with the other students, especially with the jock crowd. Most schools around here didn't really have a social class problem within the school, however WE did, and I was probably the bottom of the food chain.
"Hey so, don't get mad but I got you something." Kyle said as he distracted my thoughts as he gave me a wrapped gift.
"Kyle...." I started to complain. He knew my rule about presents and especially in public.
"I know, I know, but just open it. Then you can put it in your bag the rest of the day, and no one will know that today is your Birth...." He started to say, as I cut him off with pressing my hand over his mouth.
"Fine." I said as I began opening the small wrapped gift. Then I saw it, it was beautiful, but a little antique looking, it was perfect. I thought as I held the gold bracelet up and watched the jewels glisten in the morning sun. It was beautiful.
"Oh my gosh, Kyle! Where? How? You shouldn't have! This must've cost a fortune. I can't accept this." I said as I regretfully began giving it back to him. As much as I loved it, I couldn't take such an expensive gift, not when I knew how much Kyle worked. He worked two jobs outside of school. One was at the local grocery store as the bag boy, and then he tutored a few middle schoolers a few days a week.
"Yes you will take it Rachel Liam and you will wear it! I saw it and I instantly knew it was meant for you." He said with a smile as he helped me put it on. I smiled, which only he could ever get the biggest smile from me. This was a very thoughtful gift, one that I would treasure the rest of my life.
"Oh thank you Kyle. I love it." I said as I gave him a hug.
"Oh well you don't y'all look adorable." I heard the high pitched sounds of Nancy Pilmore's voice ring out, and then the sounds of her group of groupies laugh behind her, making the snide comments along side her.
"Oh can't you leave her alone for one day, especially today." Kyle said as he stood up in front of me. Oh no Kyle don't say it. Don't tell them. I begged in my mind.
"Oh I don't know about that, it's pretty much my coffee rush for the morning, it helps get me going." She said with an evil smirk. Ugh just once I wish she would get a taste of her own medicine. I thought to myself, as I looked down at the ground, avoiding her eyes.
"Oh come on, you can't leave a girl to celebrate her birthday with at least one decent friend, and not get harassed by ignorant people like you for one day?" He spat out as I knew his blood was beginning to boil. Kyle you shouldn't have. I thought as my face turned red.
"Awww today's your birthday? What so your sixteen! Well Kyle, I'd say if you wanted her to celebrate her birthday with at least one friend, then your out of luck. She's pretty pathetic, I mean it's a shame you take pity on her, and just because it's her birthday doesn't mean you have to be extra nice to her, I mean it'll probably overwhelm her. Isn't that right Rach?" She said as I felt tears beginning to slide from my eyes.
"That's enough Nancy." I heard the wonderful sounds of Jimmy's voice ring out from behind me.
"What, we weren't doing anything. Just wishing Rachel here a Happy Birthday, and she got all emotional. Isn't that right?" She said as she glared at me to agree. I could only slowly nod.
"Yeah I'm sure. Anyway Zach is looking for you." He said as he came around looking at my red face, and began to get Nancy and her crew away from me.
"Come on girls, enough celebrating for the moment, we can continue this later, after all today is a very very special day." She said with a snicker.
"Are you alright?" Jimmy asked for a second. He and I were next door neighbors all of our lives, and he and my brother were good friends. When we were younger, we would always play hide and seek and talk for hours in my tree house. That was until he started going to baseball camp during the summers, and the start of high school we barely spoke. He was the gorgeous, captain of the baseball team, and I was the loser nerd girl from next door, and his friends made that perfectly clear.
"Yeah I'm fine, thanks." I said as I got up, hearing the bell sound for the start of first period.
"Well, here, I remembered today was your birthday, I was actually coming to find you to give it to you. Sorry about Nancy." He said as he handed me a small wrapped gift.
"Thanks, and don't worry about Nancy, I can handle it." I said as I began to open it quickly. Revealing the soundtrack to Wicked, one of my most favorite Broadway shows. He remembered. I thought silently to myself.
"Thanks Jim. I love it." I said as I began opening the card next.
"No open that later, we don't have time here. I'll see you tonight at your party alright. Happy Birthday Rach." He said as he ran off to catch up with his friends that were waiting for him at the school's entrance.
"Wow, Wicked...I didn't know he had it in him." I heard Kyle say condescendingly.
"Oh Kyle stop it would you. It's a nice gift. Both of your gifts are amazing. Thank you again." I said to Kyle as I put the CD and the card in my backpack, then held out my wrist for Kyle to help me put on the beautiful bracelet he had just given me.
"Well, sorry that Nancy had to go and ruin the morning fun. I need to head on to class but catch ya at lunch?" He asked as the bell rung and he started to walk towards the direction of his first class.
"Yeah, see ya." I smiled, knowing that's what he needed to see in order to stop apologizing for Nancy's daily routine of trying to ruin my life.
As the day went by, I became so caught up in my classes and the work, that I nearly forgot about the card until I was trying to find my calculator for my AP-Pre Calculus class.