Dionie McNair - Curse of the Chakka Chakka

Curse of the Chakka Chakka

ISBN # 978-1-78651-775-3

Copyright Dionie McNair 2017

Cover Art by Posh Gosh Copyright July 2017

'Chakka Chakka' Image supplied by Erren Klarich

Edited by Ann Leveille

Finch Books

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the authors imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Finch Books.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Finch Books. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2017 by Finch Books, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, UK

Finch Books is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

The Abrasaxons Daughter

CURSE OF THE CHAKKA CHAKKA

Dionie McNair

Book two in The Abrasaxons Daughter series

Brianna must break the curse of the Chakka Chakka and save her family and friends.

Brianna is just beginning to settle into her new life in the Crystal Castle when she and Issah are attacked by the Abrasaxons mortal enemy, the Chakka Chakka. These small blue flying humanoids burrow their slender spiral horn into a hosts ear until it pierces their brain. Once the horn is embedded the Chakka Chakka chatter, squeak and whisper semi-intelligible sounds day and night, sending the host mad.

Brianna wants to help the Abrasaxon defeat them, but there are those who spurn her efforts, including her half-brother, Hashnok. With the help of her friends she follows the clues to the mountains and finds the secret of the Chakka Chakka.

Armed with this information, she sets a trap to capture them. Brianna is injured in the battle, though, and her greatest challenge may turn out to be finding a cure not only to save the other victims, but to save herself as well.

Dedication

To my grandchildren

Owen and Emily

Chapter One

Brianna squealed as Amon swam under the water and grabbed her ankles, pulling her under the water without warning. She fought his imprisonment and, kicking free, paddled to a safe distance before she spun around. Standing waist-deep in the geothermally heated lake, she scooped up two handfuls of water and threw them at him. He lunged away, diving into deeper water before swimming out of her reach.

Brianna ducked back under and struck out after him. She was glad the lake had been restored to its pristine state by her father after Saquin had turned it to acid. With warm water bubbling up out of natural fissures in the lakebed, it made pleasant swimming all year around. Most of the little time she had with Amon was spent by or in the lake.

As she pursued him, she noticed the sun had sunk low in the sky. Moonbeams, Im going to be late again.

Amon, come back. I have to return to the castle.

Amon stopped, drifted in the water for a moment then stood, brushing his hair from his face. Luna eclipse, Brianna, you always have to go back to the castle and the Abrasaxon.

I know, but my father has expectations and we did promise.

He swam back to her and together they waded out of the water.

Amon took her hand and helped over the rocky beach. I know. It could be worse, I suppose.

Brianna dried herself and pulled her blue velvet robe over her damp undergarments. She tucked her over robe under her arm.

Youll catch cold like that.

Ill change when I get there. She flung herself against his chest and clung to him, reluctant to leave. Their time together was so short and at times, when resentment got the better of her, she thought her father deliberately arranged it that way.

Since shed been in the castle and gotten to know him it had become clear that her father would prefer she love someone with Abrasaxon blood. Hakon had never said so, and claimed all he wanted was for her to be happy, but she knew he had concerns for her future life with a full mortal.

I have to go, Amon, or Ill be late again, and Alameda gets irritated with my constant tardiness.

Amons smoky gray eyes darkened and with irritated impatience he planted a kiss on her mouth. I suppose you better go then, he muttered.

Brianna sighed. It was always hard to leave and Amon didnt make it easier. Besides, shed now left it so late she would have to do a travel spell and go disheveled from swimming directly to her class. Even so, she would not make it on time.

Shed hated travel spells since the first bad experiences with Issahs rudimentary attempts when they had fled the Tyban. Without sufficient training a travel spell could go awry. Brianna avoided using them as often as possible. And despite Alameda urging her to practice her spells often she had no problem finding more palatable tasks to complete.

Her stepmother had promised it would get easier if she practiced, and she believed her, but the actual doing had proven to be the painful part. Each time she was caught up in the circular swirl of the spell Briannas stomach turned somersaults and became heavy with nausea. She tasted sour bile in her throat. Her blood thumped in her head then hurtled through her body, leaving her lightheaded and confused. Shed never been good with motion other than her own feet. Even riding Koshi made her gut clench in protest at times.

She stepped back from Amon and with a slow turn she sang out the words

Travel far, travel close

Carry yon host

Only so far as

Alamedas rooms

The air around her swirled and a curtain of mist exploded and closed off her view of Amon. Her feet lifted and weightlessness took hold of her body. The spin began. Her stomach protested, clenching and squirming.

She tumbled and vibrated with only a vague sense of the lake as it whizzed away and the solid bulk of the mountain that loomed beside her. The sunlight faded. She heard noises, voices and footsteps. Her surroundings became clearer, but she still tumbled. Vomit rose into her throat and she swallowed hard. Issah stared with her mouth open as Brianna flew past. With a jerk Issah thrust her hands out as if to grab her, but she couldnt get a secure grip. Behind Issah, Alameda stood her spine rigid and upright, a deep frown furrowing her brow.

Brianna hit the floor with a painful thump, bounced once, twice, then slid across the crystal.

Ouch, she cried as she thudded into the wall. She stayed still, her legs crumpled beneath her, her long robe in disarray and hiked halfway up her thighs. Shed also lost one shoe and her over robe somewhere on the way. A sense of doom weighed her down. She was about to receive a severe scolding.

Really, Brianna, if only you could summon up a little decorum. An Abrasaxon of your stature and age should not be twirling uncontrolled along the paths of movement under the influence of a badly directed travel spell.

Alamedas tone was sharp. Brianna flinched. Embarrassment sent heated waves crashing over her. Why cant I get this right?