Four Corners

Levi always knew he was different. The fact that he could smash a light bulb without touching it was only one clue, but he’s about to find out how special he really is...

Sought after by those in a magical land, he meets Aura, Queen of Esotera. Her kingdom is in trouble and he’s the only one who can help. But the powerful sorcerer who cursed Esotera will not give up easily. A collision of magic and fates, sealed long ago, will catapult the two into a race to save Aura’s kingdom. Will they make it in time, or will they lose everything they love, and possibly both their lives?

KUDOS FOR FOUR CORNERS

In Four Corners by Kristin Durfee, Aura is a young princess who discovers a dreadful secret on the day her father dies--her kingdom is cursed. And the only way she can break the curse is with the help of someone from the other world--our world, Earth, an alternate world to hers. So she journeys through the portal between the two worlds to enlist the help of an unlikely hero--Levi, a misfit who has magical powers he is unaware of. These two set off on a mission any sane person would deem impossible. And that’s when the trouble starts. I found the characters charming. The fact that they aren’t super heroes, hunks, or beauty queens only made them that much more endearing. There’s a good strong plot, in which nothing seems to go as you expect. This is a book YA and new adult should love. ~ Taylor Jones, Reviewer

Four Corners by Kristin Durfee is a coming-of-age story about a young man, Levi, who is a misfit in his world (Earth) because he has magical powers he not only doesn’t know he has, he couldn’t control them even if he knew what they were. And it is also about a young woman who becomes the ruler of her world (Esotera) when her father dies, only to discover that it is cursed and our misfit Levi is the only one who can break the curse and save her world. So she comes to Earth to find him, but the evil wizard, who cursed her world to begin with, gets there first. It’s a story about growing up, accepting responsibility for your actions, and sacrificing for a cause. A lot of good moral lessons for young people. Four Corners is intriguing. I liked the concept of the alternate worlds, or alternate realities, or whatever, and the mix of fantasy with reality. Her characters are charming and, added to all the twists and turns in the plot, make Four Corners a fun and heartwarming read. ~ Regan Murphy, Reviewer

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my deepest and sincerest thanks to everyone who has helped make this book what it is today. It is an incredible journey bringing a work of fiction from an idea in the author’s head to a piece that others (hopefully) will want to read. Each of these people helped in some way to make this book a reality, and I thank them for it.

Shannon, you took what was a pretty big mess and helped drag me from the self-doubt of my writing into having a confidence and love of my story and characters that I was previously lacking. You saw promise before anyone else did and helped make it a piece that someone actually wanted to publish. Your dedication to my work and characters means the world to me.

Jessie, Erin, Shary, Kristen, and Cierra, your early readings and suggestions all those years ago were invaluable in developing my story. You also became my cheering squad through bringing this book to the world. Cierra, whether you really knew this or not, something you said to me at Thanksgiving years ago was the catalyst in writing this story. You were truly the spark that started this all. I hope I created a world that you would want to live in.

My family and friends, the love and support you have given me has been truly humbling. You’ve all asked me with excitement to explain my book and rooted for me as each milestone in getting this toward publishing has occurred. I hope I’ve made it worth the wait.

Reyana, Faith, Lauri, and the Black Opal team, your suggestions have improved, not only this work, but my writing as a whole. I have learned so much from all of you and am grateful that you saw promise in a little story I wrote about a girl, a boy, and a dragon.

Matt C, thank you for giving me a cover that perfectly summarizes the whimsy and magic of my work. You endured endless back and forths with me with patience and kindness. Your work is amazing and I am proud to have it be the outer image of my inner work.

Amy, for your enthusiasm about my work, your company on countless hilly miles, and your photography prowess.

Newport, for keeping me company during endless hours at the computer and reminding me that sometimes you just have to take a break, go outside, and play.

And, finally, to You, you are holding in your hand a dream. A labor of love (and some pain and sometimes a little cursing), but just the fact that you are holding it in your hand, please let it be a reminder to you to never let go of your dreams. Hold them tight and when you see opportunities, go after them. It can be a scary process, but immensely fulfilling. Don’t let rejection change your goals. Work harder. Seek those who want the same thing as you and will help you get it. Chase success. It may take many years, but the payoff will be sweater than anything you could imagine. You got this.

Four Corners

Kristin Durfee

A Black Opal Books Publication

Copyright © 2015 by Kristin Durfee

Cover Design by Matt Conway

All cover art copyright © 2015

All Rights Reserved

EBOOK ISBN: 978-1-626942-73-8

EXCERPT

She’d known there would be danger, but she hadn’t expected it quite so soon...

It all happened so quickly. The sound of movement was all around them and Aura was terrified. This was it. This was the moment they had been preparing for and hoping would never happen, though it felt all wrong. They were expecting any type of ambush to occur when they were either close to the portal or in the other world. Instead, they were only a half-day’s ride from the center of the kingdom, in woods that were protected by her guards. There should not be bands of outlaws here. The only danger they should be facing should be from Winester, but there was no way he had caught up with them. Her eyes were trying, to no avail, to adjust to the low light. The sounds, though! The sounds kept continuing until she felt dizzy. They seemed to be coming from everywhere. An army, she thought. It sounded like an army trampling the ground around them.

Resbuca, she said again in a panicked voice.

Quiet.

She felt Resbuca move beside her and felt another body saddle to her other side. Kolas breathed heavily, his own panic making him lose his breath. She felt the other bodies close in on her as well in a reassuring protective manner. As much as she wanted them to run and save themselves, she was embarrassed to admit she needed this crush around her to keep her from screaming.

The sounds were now coming faster and closer. Aura took a deep breath and prepared herself for whatever onslaught was to come. She didn’t even have time to react when the bag was placed over her head. A second later, she felt a sharp pain coupled with a loud crack and everything went to black.

To Matt

For making be braver

than I ever thought I could be

Si vis pacem para bellum

(If you want peace, prepare for war)

Chapter 1

Cursed

Aura had awakened with the first morning rays, just like she always did. She looked out the window and gazed upon Esotera--the rolling hills, flowers, and three waterfalls that made this one of the most beautiful places in the entire kingdom of Esotera, her father’s kingdom.

She loved living here and getting to wake up to the warm sun upon her face and birds singing outside her window. She had little to want for in her life. Aura understood that she lived a privileged life, but she took her position very seriously and knew what her future held for her. At least, she thought she knew.

Her father was King Aldric, who’d inherited the throne from his father, who’d inherited it from his father, continuing back for hundreds of years. The powerful Lord Vertrous had decreed this place to her family, and it was to be handed down generation by generation--until there was a break in the chain.

Unbeknownst to her, Aura was that break.

This morning, though, she had better things with which to fill her thoughts. It was the Day of Asking and she’d promised her father her assistance in the daunting task. Each year, before spring harvest began, the people of Esotera came from all over to ask the king for blessings and assistance. While he held many appointments throughout the year, this was the one day that anyone could come and talk to him. Normally, the poor and the forest dwellers typically did not come to the main castle out of fear. In the old days, the Esoterans who lived close to the castle would ostracize those on the outskirts, thinking they were lesser people. To quell these feelings, King Aldric started hosting asking days so all the people of the kingdom could feel welcome and enjoy all that the castle and the grounds had to offer.

It had grown into a quasi-festival in years past and had quickly become an event that people looked forward to, immediately after the previous one had ended. However, it made for a long and exhausting day for the king as he listened to the most trite and trivial requests up to the most heartbreaking pleas. Before Aura was born, her mother had helped.

But following her death, shortly after Aura’s birth, the king had performed this task alone. This year, however, he’d decided that Aura was finally old enough to join him during the proceedings.

She was excited and nervous at the same time. Aura had always looked forward to having more responsibility in the kingdom, but with that knowledge also came a reality that she was not quite ready to face. One day this kingdom would be hers, and all these responsibilities would fall squarely on her shoulders. She tried not to think about it as she headed to the great room in the middle of the castle.

Aura, it is time that you start taking greater responsibility for the running of Esotera, King Aldric had told her several weeks prior.

Anything I can do to help, Father, she’d said while straightening a flower arrangement on their eating table.

The Day of Asking is coming up. Would you sit in on it with me?

For the whole thing? She’d been slightly crestfallen. The day was always a festival for her as well.

Yes, Aura. One day you will be taking over and you must learn what needs to happen to make this kingdom run smoothly.

Of course, Father. Of course, I will help, she said, looking up at him.

Now, though, looking out the windows and seeing tents being set up with animals scattered all over the open land in front of the castle, she wished she did not have to sit in a stuffy room all day, listening to the problems of others.

Aura made her way quickly back to her dressing room to change. She had dressed in preparation to walk through the festival, but now felt as though she should be clad more formally. Once she changed her outfit, she also had to change her shoes, jewelry, and hair. By the time she was ready again, a jolt ran through her as she realized how long she’d taken to get ready. She flew out of the room, hoping she hadn’t missed anything.

When she rushed into the great room, her father was already listening to a small woman quietly begging for something. Her father looked old and tired and Aura was suddenly struck by an image of him lying still in bed. He was strong and powerful, there was no doubt about that--even when sitting. But she could see the edges of him softening slightly as if, eventually, they would disappear and he would just melt away. She shook the thought from her head as she sat in a tall-backed chair next to him and began to listen.

After several hours, Aura’s back and neck were starting to ache. Her father, however, appeared as interested in each person as the last. She was not sure how he did it. Some people asked for simple things, like blessings for their crops or permissions to graze their animals on the outskirts of certain lands, and her father quickly granted them his approval. Others had much more complicated problems or matters to discuss, and her father engaged them with equal time and attention.

My blessed king, a man said, bowing so deeply Aura thought his lips might touch his knees.

Please. Please stand, King Aldric said. Please state your question. What can I help you with today?

I am starved, king, terribly, terribly hungry. The man did not look like he had missed a single meal in months, and Aura was sure her father would quickly send the vagabond away empty handed.

Go to our kitchen, to the side door. Tell them I sent you and that you are to receive one loaf of bread, a slab of cheese, and bottle of wine.

Aura was flabbergasted.

Thank you, thank you so much, dear king. May you live many more blessed years, the man said as he bowed continuously and backed out of the room. One of the king’s aides went to tell the kitchen staff his wishes and to make sure they were properly carried out.

As soon as the man left the room, Aura turned to her father incredulously. Father, that person was clearly not hungry. He looked perfectly healthy!

Was her father’s eye-sight failing? Could he not see the lies the man told?

Aura, sometimes a man starves and it is not just from lack of food or a grumbling belly. Who are we to say that someone is hungry and someone else is not? We help when we can, where we can, he said firmly.

She stared at him, wanting to ask more questions, to ask him to explain what he really meant, but she could see his mind had transported him out of the room. His eyes were seeing memories that Aura could not. He looked wistful and...she wondered what that other expression was...nostalgic? She was about to open her mouth when another person walked in, snapping her father back to the present.

***

It was incredibly late when they finally called the Day of Asking complete. King Aldric walked out onto his bedroom balcony and looked down on all his people. Faces turned toward him, people stopping in various stages of celebration to look up.

Until next year, my dear Esoterans-- His voice carried and bounced back all around them. Have a blessed and safe year!

The crowd cheered and the king turned back into his chambers. Aura was sitting on a chair next to his bed, her muscles and bones aching from fatigue, wondering if she was even able to walk back to her bedroom. If this was what ruling a kingdom was about, she wasn’t sure that she was the right person for the job.

Father, I-- she began.

But he cut her off as if he had not heard her. My dear Aura, thank you for your help today, but I am very tired and wish to sleep now.

Of course, Father. Goodnight.

She bent to kiss him as he slowly lowered himself onto the bed. He seemed to wither away as the covers swallowed him up and, for the second time that day, she began to realize how old he was.

As she reached for the door to leave, she turned back to get one last look of him, but he had already turned off the light and disappeared into the darkness.

Chapter 2

Removed

Mr. Roberts, Johnstown Prep simply cannot allow this behavior to continue.

No, not again, Levi moaned inwardly. What number would this be, six? Seven? More? Was it more terrible that he couldn’t even remember?

At this school, the woman...who was she again?...continued, we pride ourselves not only on academic excellence, but also on personal conduct. A graduate of this school is held to a higher standard than most. Your parents are paying for that standard. I am meeting with them momentarily, but I simply do not see how we can keep you enrolled here. Do you understand? Do you have anything to say for yourself?

Here it was. Here was the moment where he was supposed to get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness--swear he’d change and would never do it again. Levi was tired of the charade.

So forty-five minutes later, carrying a small box filled with his personal items, Levi followed his well-to-do parents out of the tenth--as his mother had just reminded him--school in the last four years.

Really though, what was he supposed to do? He couldn’t help it, and he certainly wasn’t doing it on purpose, at least most of the time. Sometimes when his mind wandered, as it had during the last incident at school, things happened that were out of his control. And people tended not to like uncontrolled things.

It had all started as soon as Levi was able to talk, think, and remember, probably when he was around three years old. He was constantly in trouble for breaking and moving objects, even if they were twice as large as he was or on the other side of the room.

Sometimes, he would have a bit of a warning--a strange tingling, like electricity running through his body--but just as soon as he was aware of it, it would explode out of him. Other times, without warning, it was just released, terrifying him and whoever was standing around him.

A specialist, who he was taken to, diagnosed him with various social disorders and made him see therapists, some of whom prescribed him pills. It didn’t take long, however, for the medicines to stop working or for something to spook his doctors, and his parents were forced to start all over again.

Twice, they even took him to see different priests at opposite ends of the country for an exorcism and, both times, they were turned away because the power within him was deemed too strong.

The last remaining school in Montgomery County, Maryland, Johnstown Prep, had now kicked him out. Levi was 18 years old, completely lost, frustrated at his inability to control his life, and unsure of what to do about it.

Levi, what are we going to do now? his mother asked when they got back to their house.

I don’t know, he replied, looking at his hands.

You’re going to have to come up with something better than that, his father declared.

There aren’t any more schools for you to go to, his mother continued, at least, not without you leaving the state.

But you need to have your diploma, his father added.

I can get my GED, Levi mumbled.

What? his father asked.

My GED. I can get my GED, Levi repeated.

That would be a good start, but-- His mother looked over at his father, who nodded. You’ll also have to get a job.

All right. That seemed fair to him. He couldn’t reasonably expect just to lounge around the house all day.

And your own place, his father added.

What? Levi sputtered, shocked. You want me to move out?

His mother looked pained and his father moved to comfort her. Levi ached inside for all he was putting them through. He didn’t feel like he was ready to move away from them, though. He wasn’t ready to be a grown-up yet. How did one just suddenly get thrust into adulthood like this?

We think it will be the best thing for you, his father said. You need to start taking responsibility--not only for your actions, but also for your future. We really feel this will help give you direction and purpose.

Fine. I’ll look for places in the morning.

Levi stood then bypassed his mother’s reaching arms to go upstairs to his room. He shook with such anger that he didn’t snap out of it until the bulb in the lamp by his bed shattered.

Levi cleaned up the glass, taking deep breaths to steady himself. He felt like the pieces of himself and his life had imploded, creating rubble that he would have to sift through for weeks to come.

Chapter 3

Truth

Red hair flowing behind her, Aura laughed as her mare, Serenity, galloped along the lush riverbank. Riding bareback, she was able to feel every smooth muscle of the horse running beneath her. The mare came to a walk, snorting uneasily as they entered a small clearing.

What is it, girl? Aura asked, stroking the mare’s golden coat.

Suddenly she heard the faint rustling that had spooked the horse. Serenity pranced in place, eyes wide and darting from one side of the meadow to the other. Without warning, a huge form broke out of the bush to her right. The horse bolted in the opposite direction, running away as fast as her legs would allow, throwing Aura off of her. Aura tried to catch her breath, after falling on the hard ground, directly in the path of a massive dragon. Heza sat on her back legs, cocking her scaled head to the side, assessing what was in front of her.

Well, Aura said, slowly getting to her feet, you certainly gave Serenity a fright. I would imagine she is almost home by now.

The dragon hung her head in shame.

Aura laughed at the apologetic beast. Such misunderstood creatures.

Her father had thought it crazy when she asked for a dragon for her eighth birthday. He had gotten her Serenity--a beautiful, striking horse in her own right--and while Aura fell immediately and deeply in love with her, her want for a dragon continued. Finally, on her thirteenth birthday, after years of begging, the king finally determined that his daughter was responsible enough to own a dragon for herself.

While dragons existed in their world, they were not very commonplace. The kingdom had several, yet they were used mainly for protection and not as common pets. Aura and her father went into the southern region of the kingdom where the dragons were raised. She knew the wait was worth it the moment she saw Heza, and they promptly brought her home.

She was a smaller dragon--if such a thing truly existed--and, while impeccably trained, she did have a mischievous streak that made her handlers crazy at times, though Aura found it to be incredibly endearing.

It’s okay, she said now and took Heza’s head into her hands. You will just have to give me a ride home.

The dragon obediently lay on her soft, pink belly. When Aura was safely tucked behind her large purple and gold wings, Heza reared back and took to the skies.

Traveling this way never failed to take Aura’s breath away. Esotera’s lush forests, open fields, snaking rivers, and scattered houses made her heart swell with pride, especially when she was able to see it all together like this. She shut her eyes and leaned her face back toward the sun as Heza began her decent toward the king’s stables. Aura opened her eyes and, while the objects below were still specks, she could clearly make out the figures of Serenity and her stable hand.

Seconds later, after giving Heza a quick kiss goodbye, Aura walked toward the long building as Heza flew off. The horse and her groom, Theirra--a beautiful black-haired woman with skin darkened even further by