The Woman That Read 1000 Books in a year.
Chapter 1
"And the sun crested over the horizon, ending the wild adventures of Aladdin and Alibaba."
Lauren closed the book and sighed. "Wow! That was a wondrous story. I wish I could ride on a magic carpet. It would be so much fun." She looked around her room at the piles of books that were out of place and cluttering her space. Suddenly, there was a "ding'' from her kindle. A message congratulating her for reading 900 kindle books in a year flashed across the screen. "I can't believe I read that many books. With the COVID-19 virus keeping everyone housebound since March, I have been doing a lot of reading, but really that much? Wait. That's just the kindle count. I wonder how many hard copies I have read." She looked around the room again and got up. She started straightening her room, putting the books back on the shelves stretching up on her toes because of her short stature and counting as she worked. "Nine hundred ninety-eight, nine hundred ninety-nine, 1000. Man, that means I have read 1000 books in just this year. Think of all the adventures and events I have experienced through the books. I wish I could really experience what happens in books. I mean to fly with dragons, be the queen of a nation, or use magic. I really could imagine." She laid back down on her bed with her reddish-brown braids spread over her pillow and was about to go into a daydream when she heard a voice.
"Could you?" Lauren heard the weird voice ask but saw no one else in her room.
"Who's there?" She yelled startled.
"Could you really imagine yourself living the lives of storybooks? Could you become The Keeper of The Keys of imagination?" The voice asked.
"What?" Lauren searched her room. Really wanting to know where the voice was coming from. A light came through the corner of the room. She could barely make out a small figure with wings in the bright light. It twinkled and glistened in iridescent colors as it came closer to her.
"A Fairy!" Lauren shrieked. Her deep brown eyes widened, and a smile bloomed across her face.
"Yes. That's what you would call me, but I am your spiritual guide. I have been watching over you since you were born. My name is Edmon." Edmon landed on Lauren's desk close to Lauren's face so she could see him clearly without the shimmer. Edmon was about the size of Lauren's ring finger and wore a silver suit of armor. His blond curls framed his bronze skin and made him look like he glowed.
"So, if you have been here all along, why are you just showing yourself now?" Lauren asked.
"Good question. Well, how to explain? You see, you have made a wish at an opportune time. The Keeper of The Keys of Imagination has fallen ill and might need to be replaced. So, when you said you imagine yourself living the lives of storybooks, you caught the interest of the present Key Keeper. Besides you have a Doctorate in Liberal Arts, have written several novels yourself, and teach English to those wonderful middle school kids. Why not you?"
"Okay. So, if I say yes?"
"You will come with me and be trained on how to become the Key Keeper."
"And, if I say no?"
"You will forget I ever existed, and your life goes on with you reading books and going on through your days here in the small town of Fayette, Mississippi. Working, reading, eating, and the rest."
Yep. That's my life. My life was boring and summed up in very few words. Why would I say no, what could I lose? "What if I say yes and this Key Keeper doesn't give me the job?" Lauren asks. "I should know what I could lose."
"Well, we would become an intrusion in your life…a permanent intrusion." Lauren gave Edmon a look. "What I mean is that you will always be able to see beings of my kind, the good and the bad. It's not that bad really. We will protect you from anyone that might try to cause you harm."
"Cause me harm?" Lauren jumped, "Why would someone want to cause me harm?"
"The Key Keeper controls the door that allows beings like me from moving into the real world and influencing change. Without a Key Keeper, characters from stories, good and bad, would be free to roam the world."
"You keep saying the good and bad. There are some really bad creatures? Ogres, Zombies, and Demons?"
"Yes."
"So, how do I meet the Key Keeper?"
"Take my hand and come with me."
Lauren thought for a few short minutes, then thought, "What am I waiting for? I have always wanted to have an adventure. This would be the ultimate adventure." As soon as Lauren touched the fairy's outstretched hand she was whisked away.
The room started to spin, and a bright light made it impossible to see. When the world finally stopped spinning, she opened her eyes to see a magical land she would never forget. Flowery meadows and lush green fields covered every inch of the land. The beautiful winding streets were covered with dense green trees and even more lush flowers that perfumed the air. The leaves of the trees were thick, forming a canopy that gave passersby shade. A library or bookstore was on every corner. Publishing companies and cover binding and gilding shops were available to everyone in every class. Coffee and tea shops were filled with people reading and conversing over books. It was a wonderful sight.
"Welcome to Librarius." The Fairy started with a flair of his arms and a brilliant smile.
Lauren spun around in a circle, wide-eyed, and took in the glorious view. Then she notices that the fairy is now a 6-foot tall, gorgeous man with beautiful silver wings. "Wow, that's a startling change. I didn't expect you to become normal-sized." Lauren stated.
"Yes, well, the storybook magic allows us to be seen as your world imagines us to be when we are in your world," He replied, "This is my real size. Now, let's get you to the palace to meet the Keeper of the Keys."
He led her through the city slowly, allowing her to take in the sights on the main road. She would stop every once in a while, and window shop. She gasped when she stopped in front of an antique shop and looked at the window display. Edmon stepped up next to her so he could see what had caught her eye. "What has caught your attention?" he asked her.
"That locket looks like the one my grandmother wore until she passed away a few years ago. She would never take it off. I think we buried it with her, but that locket looks exactly like it." She continued to stare at it puzzled.
"It's possible that it is the same locket. Prized possessions that are buried with avid readers are sometimes collected by their guardians. They contain very strong magic." Edmon goes into the store, buys the locket, and brings it out to Lauren.
"I can't take that. I can't pay you back for it." Lauren protests.
"Don't worry. Just think of it as a welcoming present." Edmon replies.
Lauren looks the locket over and her face breaks into a bright smile as she reads the engraving on the back. "The words of imagination fuel a growing mind. Free your mind and believe. For Beatrice from Oliver."
A tear falls from her eyes, and she says, "This really was my grandma's." After that, she remained quiet as they walked towards the palace. Once at the gate, Edmon spoke to the guard, and they were allowed to enter.
Lauren didn't expect the grandeur she walked into. It also seemed Edmon was wrong about the building being a palace. It was a school. Students in uniforms of several colors were changing classes. "Come on. We are heading for the tallest tower in the middle."
Seven spires reached up to the sky, each with a different color flag at the top. Lauren noticed that the student's uniforms matched the flags. She didn't voice her observation. She just continued to look around taking in everything she saw. They entered a large courtyard with beautiful orderly flower gardens and herb gardens. Huge statues and fountains were strategically placed to tell a story, that is if you could guess the characters and follow the plot as they lead inwardly towards the door of the center spire. Dragons, fairies, elves, unicorns, mermaids, and other beautiful creatures of light were all displayed in the first garden statuary. In the middle of them, there was a beautiful human woman. Across from them vampires, demons, fae, bicorns, sirens, and other dark creatures were displayed. They faced the beautiful woman and reached out to her. A small miniature village was the next statuary presentation. It was filled with people that seemed to be happy and playing. Then the greed and hate of the world was presented along with sadness and pain. The scene was a huge war. Right in front of the entry door was a giant globe that had been split in half with what seemed to be force fields between the two halves. Set centrally was all of the creatures and humans in a huge cuddle pile with the woman from the beginning of the story holding the keys, the world finally in peace. Or is it really? Looking at the faces of the creatures, it was hard to tell.
They entered the door of the spire. A squire announced their arrival and then they waited. A few minutes later, a gentle-faced woman entered the room and sat in what could only be described as a leather recliner. She beckoned them towards her and Edmon urged Lauren forward. Edmon bowed then moved to the side leaving Lauren to talk to the elder woman. "What is your name, child?" She asked with a soft smile on her face.
"Lauren Williams."
"I hope your trip here wasn't too terrible and that Edmon has been a gentleman."
" It was fine and invigorating. So far my mind has been blown." Lauren replied.
"My name is Evandalyn. I'm the Keeper of the Keys of Imagination." She said with a calming smile. "Since you are here, I have to assume you have chosen to train to become the next Keeper."
"I have."
There was a long silence. Lauren wondered if she did something wrong. Evandalyn looked directly at Lauren, "I knew your grandmother." She stated shyly. She reached up and touched the locket on Lauren's neck. Lauren looked at her curiously. "I was her guardian."
Lauren was stunned. "I will tell you more about our relationship later. As for now, I am happy you are here and Edmon will lead you to your room and let you get some rest." Evandalyn turned away quickly.
Edmon stepped forward and gestured for Lauren to go up a hallway on the right that led to a spiral staircase. Lauren's mind was full of questions, but she held her tongue and left with Edmon. She was after all going to train with Evandalyn, so she would have time.
The staircase went high into the spire and then broke into a floor with seven rooms. Lauren was given one of the rooms high in the spire of the palace. As she entered, she was surrounded by windows and crystals hanging without string. The sun shined through creating rainbows of light all throughout the room. Her bed was in the middle of the room and there was a huge closet and bathroom to one side. An eating table was set in the sitting area. All the decorations were gorgeous. Airy, light, and lacey. She loved it. Just to think she would be sleeping here from now on. She had never had anything so expensive or exuberant before. Even when she lived with her parents in her middle-class home nothing had been so beautiful. Lauren slept very well. Knowing that when she woke up the next morning, everything would change.