Shay's mother has disappeared. 

Her father has become withdrawn following her mother's disappearance and there is little Shay can do to help. 

Then, one night, Shay saves her father from a strange assailant in his study and is carried to another world with her father where the truth about her mother is revealed. 

Discovering that her mother is apparently not the person Shay has admired all her life, leads Shay to question her own values which she has so proudly built on the image of the perfect marriage which her parents displayed to her as a child. As Shay comes to terms with her parent’s betrayal, she herself betrays the one person who has trusted her most in this strange kingdom. 

While she loathes her new behavior she seems unable to stop, since betraying one person means protecting another. While Shay struggles with her own question of values, Shay's life and the world itself begin to collapse around her. 

But life continues and the evil that rises seeks the greatest treasure of all. A power to rule all worlds. For evil does not mourn. And evil has no conscience. And Shay holds a key to access another world which the evil desperately desires.....

WordRealm

Shay felt her grip on the knife wrench free and she assumed that Josh had taken it from her. She rolled away as quickly as she could fearing an attack from him. Then she stood and turned to face Josh. 


Josh kneeled. He clutched at the knife that protruded from his chest. Shay stood frozen in horror and watched him as he tried to speak. 


“No!” Shay cried. She rushed over to Josh and caught him as he collapsed. She cradled his head in her lap. Blood poured from the wound in his chest. His eyes were open. He was still alive. He looked at Shay without saying a word. Shay could see the anger, hatred, and vengeance from a moment ago were gone now and the old Josh was back. 


Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the life flow from Josh. 


“I’m sorry Josh. Forgive me. I never meant to kill you. I never meant to hurt you. Don’t die. Please don’t die.” 


Josh looked at Shay silently and then coughed. His voice was so soft Shay had to strain to hear. 


Chapter 25