A/N: Hello, my name is Adara Rose and I'm a new author here. This is my first story and I now you would like to continue reading, but I must say a few things first. This story is something that came to me after reading the 6th book of the Charlie Bone series, so you must read the first 6 to understand everything in this story. I also do not own the characters or items or anything of that nature; that all belongs to Jenny Nimmo and I am merely borrowing her work to create my own story and some of my own characters. After the prologue that I have written below, is supposed to be where the prologue of the 5th book comes inTo clarify confusion you should probably refer back to it, but to make it easier, the red king speaks to Mathonwy and begs him to turn the king into a tree and his leopards into cats. Please feel free to ask questions in reviews or just to send a comment! Thank you and please enjoy!
The Children of the Red King,
Called the Endowed
Manfred Bloor
Teaching assistant at Bloor's Academy. A hypnotist. He is descended from Borlath, elder son of the Red King. Borlath was a brutal and sadistic tyrant.
Naren Bloor
Adopted daughter of Bartholomew Bloor. Naren can send shadow words over great distances. She is descended from the Red King's grandson who was abducted by pirates and taken to China.
Charlie Bone
Charlie can travel into photographs and pictures. Through his father, he is descended from the Red King and through his mother, from Mathonwy, a Welsh magician and friend of the Red King.
Idith and Inez Branko
Telekinetic twins, distantly related to Zelda Dobinski, who has left Bloor's Academy.
Dagbert Endless
Dagbert is the son of Lord Grimwald, who can control the oceans. His mother took the gold from drowned men's teeth and made them into charms to protect her son. Dagbert is a drowner.
Hadrian Frost
Hadrian can freeze his victims with one glance. His power comes from the third son of the Red King, who used his power to drown his kingdom into darkness.
Dorcas Loom
An endowed girl whose gift is the ability to bewitch clothes.
Christine Marley
Descended from a line of good witches and many wise psychics. Her ancestors could create many powerful shields and protections. Christine has the power of sound.
Una Onimous
Mr. Onimous's niece. Una is five years old and her endowment is being kept secret until it has fully developed.
Asa Pike
A were-beast. He is descended from a tribe who lived in the northern forests and kept strange beasts. Asa can change shape at dusk. He has currently left Bloor's Academy.
Billy Raven
Billy can communicate with animals. One of his ancestors conversed with ravens that sat on a gallows where dead men hung. For this talent he was banished from his village.
Lysander Sage
Descended from an African wise man, Lysander can call up his spirit ancestors.
Gabriel Silk
Gabriel can feel scenes and emotions through the clothes of others. He comes from a line of psychics.
Joshua Tilpin
Joshua has magnetism. He is descended from Lilith, the Red King's oldest daughter, and Harken, the evil enchanter who married her.
Emma Tolly
Emma can fly. Her surname derives from the Spanish swordsman from Toledo whose daughter married the Red King. The swordsman is therefore an ancestor of all the endowed children.
Tancred Torsson
A storm-bringer. His Scandinavian ancestor was named after the thunder god, Thor. Tancred can bring wind, thunder, and lightning.
Olivia Vertigo
Descended from Guanhamara, who fled the Red King's castle and married an Italian prince. Olivia is an illusionist. The Bloors are unaware of her endowment
Prologue
The Red King had carried many things in his years of journeying. After all, he was a magnificent magician out of Africa. He had collected magical mirrors, beautiful jewels, even an incredible horn. Yes, he held many spells and secrets full of knowledge throughout the hardships he had faced. But alas, his children had become wicked and stole most of the things he had held dear. They had turned against each other and even the helpless people that lived within their cities. The king mourned for his children, especially the good ones that had run across the world away from their wicked siblings in hopes to find some measure of safety and comfort.
He glanced down at a compass with beautiful gold and detailed arrows. There were no markings or labeling of any sort on this magical compass. Yet, the arrows started spinning as soon as he had laid his eyes on the trinket. He saw the arrow rest in the direction behind him.
The king glanced back over his shoulder at the place the compass had pointed to. A massive mountain stood there with a winding path almost invisible to the eye. Snow lay all around on the land before and around the mountain. Snow kept falling heavily and yet, no snow touched the mountain. It remained brown and gray with dirt and stone.
Three great leopards shot out of the remaining trees. Sighing regretfully, the king turned to watch his pets. They watched him with large yellow eyes, finally landing on the compass he still held.
"I don't really have anymore need for this do I?" he asked them out loud.
The cats seemed to purr with agreement.
"But I should keep it somewhere safe or I fear the world would freeze over with some of the power my children will inherit. That is why I will tell Mathonwy to turn you to cats the color of flame with the power of fire. It is the cold darkness I fear most."
The three cats circled in around for comfort and warmth. They would watch over the descendents, bringing their fire as a light for guidance. First they must find Mathonwy
A/N: I apologize for this chapter being so short, but seeing as it is merely a prologue to the story, the rest of the chapters will be longer. Comments are appreciated!