Journey to Rainbow Island (43 page)

I
T WAS DUSK
and the sky was dark.

Across stormy waters the lone island was bathed in rain and swirling cloud. Enormous sea swells battered the cliffs, the whiteness of the crashing waves in stark contrast to the dark grey granite rocks jutting from the turbulent sea. High above—higher than the lair of the warlock, or the cavernous jail that once held a small boy—was the highest point on the island. It was an enormous spur of rock that jutted above all others, reaching high into the sky—a dark tower looming over the desolation of the isolated island of rock.

Just below the summit of the craggy peak, a lone climber inched closer to the summit. Though the rain and wind buffeted him, his long, thin fingers held fast as he climbed hand over hand. Hobaling stopped, his feet resting on a small ledge, as he took in the scene all around him. Overhead a shadow passed, followed by a loud screech that pierced the sounds of the storm.

Hobaling continued to climb and grabbed hold of the last rock in his ascent, pulling himself up onto the top ledge. Nestled in a round cleft in the rocks, hidden from below, was a nest. Lying in the nest were seven large crystals. They were void of any life or light, and rain pelted them from above.

The warlock rubbed his hands across the stones, and stopped—his hand was poised in midair as the large dark shadow once again passed overhead. He looked up and shouted, “There were
two
skulls, weren't there, my dear?”

As he turned back toward the nest, his hand continued past the seven stones and fell upon three darker, larger objects. The black eggs had a polished, smooth surface—like hard obsidian rock.

As night fell, the warlock remained on the ledge, admiring his trophies. Darkness came quickly, and the storm grew more violent. Thunder clapped, followed a moment later by lightning that illuminated the hidden nest. The flash of light revealed all ten objects lying side by side, indistinguishable one from the other, as the rain pelted down from the black sky above.

C
HRISTIE
H
SIAO
is founder of Serenity Media Group, a global entertainment company devoted to creating high quality film, TV, and digital media projects. It is her vision to create positive entertainment that is uplifting, international in scope, and that catalyzes change. Christie believes in the unique power of story to raise awareness and to compel societal transformation. Originally from Taiwan, she holds a BA from UCLA in East Asian Studies and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Christie went on to study film in New York City, where she wrote, directed, and produced several well-received films. This is her first novel.