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  Bloodstone

  The Curse of Time Book 1

  M.J. Mallon

  Copyright (C) 2021 M.J. Mallon

  Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

  Published 2021 by Next Chapter

  Edited by Emily Fuggetta

  Cover art by CoverMint

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

  Contents

  Inspirations

  Prologue

  Puzzle Piece 1:

  Puzzle Piece 2:

  Puzzle Piece 3:

  Puzzle Piece 4:

  Puzzle Piece 5:

  Puzzle Piece 6:

  Puzzle Piece 7:

  Puzzle Piece 8:

  Puzzle Piece 9:

  Puzzle Piece 10:

  Puzzle Piece 11:

  Puzzle Piece 12:

  Puzzle Piece 13:

  Puzzle Piece 14:

  Puzzle Piece 15:

  Puzzle Piece 16:

  Puzzle Piece 17:

  Puzzle Piece 18:

  Puzzle Piece 19:

  Puzzle Piece 20:

  Puzzle Piece 21:

  Puzzle Piece 22:

  Puzzle Piece 23:

  Puzzle Piece 24:

  Puzzle Piece 25:

  Puzzle Piece 26:

  Puzzle Piece 27:

  Puzzle Piece 28:

  Puzzle Piece 29:

  Puzzle Piece 30:

  Puzzle Piece 31:

  Puzzle Piece 32:

  Puzzle Piece 33:

  Puzzle Piece 34:

  Puzzle Piece 35:

  Puzzle Piece 36:

  Puzzle Piece 37:

  Puzzle Piece 38:

  Puzzle Piece 39:

  Dear Reader

  Acknowledgments

  Self-Harm Disclaimer and Help

  About the Author

  To my lovely mum and dad thank you for your unfaltering belief in me, for my stimulating and extraordinary childhood and adolescent years, and your continued love and support through more recent times.

  Inspirations

  The Curse of Time series is inspired by the Corpus Christi Chronophage clock in Kings Parade, Cambridge and Juniper Artland’s Crystal Grotto in Wilkieston, Scotland: The Light Pours Out of Me, by artist Anya Gallaccio.

  Anya Gallaccio is a British artist born in 1963 who creates minimalist installations working with organic matter. Anya Gallaccio: The Light Pours Out Of Me – Jupiter Artland

  Both creations were intended to be beautiful but unsettling. On first encountering the clock and the grotto, I was overcome with conflicting emotions. The chronophage’s disturbing nature characterised by the grasshopper’s pincer sharp teeth continues long after the grotto’s initial strangeness.

  These are incredible visions of creativity and well worth a visit. The above photo depicts the grasshopper of the chronophage gobbling time. Photo courtesy of—Dr John C Taylor, OBE.

  The Corpus Christi Chronophage is a popular tourist attraction located on Kings Parade in Cambridge, UK, and is one of the most incredible creations I have ever seen. It was invented by the esteemed inventor, Dr John C Taylor, OBE, who I had the pleasure of meeting in September 2017. It was an extraordinarily inspiring moment, and one I will treasure forever.

  Who would have thought I would have the opportunity to spend time with one of the greatest living inventors of our time? This intriguing gentleman is also a pilot, adventurer, photographer, architect and philanthropist. His striking invention, the Chronophage clock was one of Time’s Best Inventions of 2008. Dr Taylor invested five years and £1 million in the Corpus Clock project, and a team of two hundred people, including engineers, sculptors, scientists, jewellers, and calligraphers were involved in its creation.

  Also, I was thrilled to be invited to a Horology Hour online talk…on Midsummer’s Day Jun 24, 2020, with Dr. Taylor. It was fascinating!

  Find out more about Dr Taylor, OBE, here: http://www.johnctaylor.com/the-chronophage/

  And on my blog here:

  https://mjmallon.com/2017/09/17/poetry-inspired-by-the-dragon-chronopage-colleens-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-50-haiku-tanka-haibun-voice-watch/

  Praise for Bloodstone—Curse of Time Book 1

  This delightful book will appeal to teens and young adults who love stories filled with magical crystals, dark family curses, and mysteries waiting to be solved around every corner. Each chapter leads you on a journey of discovery where Amelina earns the right to use three wizard stones to reset the balance of time and finally break the curse that holds her family captive. A captivating tale! Author Colleen Chesebro

  This is a totally different genre for me, but this year I have been reading books by so many exciting new authors that I wanted to give this book a try. This novel would be great for teenagers, or young adults and it follows the magical story of teenager Amelina as she steps into a world of crystals, magic and wonderment. There are some likeable and not so likeable characters and both are really well written. The book weaves a story of the main character learning new skills and you see her personal growth throughout the story. Nothing is what is seems and you want to find out how Amelia will use her enchanted gifts and learn who she can trust. A book packed full of intrigue, believable characters and poetic verse. Author Lizzie Chantree

  This is a brilliant book for young adults interested in magic, supernatural, paranormal, fantasy and myth. I found it highly readable and the author's imagination is phenomenal, as is the fluency of her language and the dazzling way she describes the curious events and characters in her story. I loved the idea of Esme, the girl trapped in the mirror. Author S C Skillman

  An intricate fantasy novel with unique supernatural and magical elements which serves as a highly entertaining read. I had a great time reading this novel and exploring the magical world of Amelina full of magic crystals and enchanted mirrors. Author, Editor and Book Reviewer Heena Rathore P.

  At its core, this is an emotional tale about a young girl figuring out her identity, learning who to trust, and discovering there is more to the world than the tangible things she's experienced in the first one-and-a-half decades of her life. Magic Mirrors? Mysterious appearances? Letters that cannot be destroyed? Puzzling trust? What's a girl to do when she's followed by two strange boys in the park, only to realize something darker is beginning to happen? Mallon explores the fears in a young girl who wants to break out of her life but doesn't know where to turn. She's unsure about trusting friends and family. Ryder, who saves the day, might actually not be the best thing for her... safety... sanity... security. Can she fight the feelings burgeoning around her? Author James Cudney

  This magical young adult story is brimming with fresh imaginative ideas avoiding tropes often associated with fantasy. I was impressed with the unique vivid visual descriptions which brought both the settings and characters to life and the wonderful standard of writing throughout the story. A magical mystery unfolds for the main character Amelina, who makes discoveries during the plot, so we can enjoy seeing her grow in confidence and skill. The story involves complex content which was difficult to follow initially but becomes more understandable as the story develops. The introduction of the antagonist, Ryder, really helps us to root for Amelina. He is well written, and I enjoyed that he wasn’t given the typical look of a baddie but rather slowly and disconcertingly reveals his darker side, inserting himself bet
ween Amelina and her friends. I can see this being the start of a fabulous young adult series and hope there are more books to come! Sarah Northwood Poet and Author

  Amelina is written so well. There is a part of her that all of us will recognise and emphasise with. At that awkward age where nothing fits and at the same time you feel as if you can conquer the world. Darkness creeps in slowly in the form of Ryder who at first seems the answer to all Amelina desires, or is he? Author Adele Marie Park

  The overall world-building creates a wonderful, spiritual atmosphere. There’s a bit of poetry at the start of every chapter, a nice touch which leads us into the action. The story bravely tackles issues of mental health and self-harm, but in such a sensitive way that it can only help improve understanding. Author Richard Dee

  Amelina is a teenage girl whose world has been turned upside down by a curse within a world where magic is hidden and most don’t seem to know of its existence. In fact, it seems she’s a descendant of a line of magic-wielding enchanters who have a special relationship with crystals. But with this curse, her father is time-ravaged, a girl is trapped in her mirror, and her family is falling apart. There are a lot of unanswered questions come the end of the book, so be on the lookout for more in the series. There are mentions of delicate issues such as cutting and anorexia, both handled with care, and a séance, but I’d recommend this book for older teens and people who love magical stories that involve power within crystals, curses, and unexplainable happenings. Author Rachael Ritchey

  This is a wonderful YA fantasy read. It's very different from others I've read and I say this in the most positive manner. One way or is unique is through the use of original short poetry at the beginning of each chapter providing a clue to the chapter content. It is very well done. I do love originality. The whole work has a magical feel about it which draws the reader in with a yearning to learn more about all of the characters and their plight. My favourite characters are, Esme... The girl trapped in the mirror, and Shadow, the black cat. These two characters alone were enough to keep me rooted. Meanwhile, on the serious side of things, there are so many issues going on in this work in addition to that of dealing with a dysfunctional family. One's familiarity will be tested and emotions may arise. That aside, when you add magic, a black cat, and a guitar and music into the mix... What is there not to love about this work? Author/Reviewer Kevin Cooper

  Amelina is an indomitable heroine who will not rest until she solves the mystery and sets the world to rights. The device of magic crystals as a source of magic is novel and works well. There are loose ends that are clearly available to be addressed in future episodes of this series. As a precursor story that is relatively complete in itself, … as an introduction to the storyline and invitation to read on. MJ Mallon is not afraid to broach the risks that young girls on the cusp are subject to in these unruly times. Both physical violence and dangerous sexual attraction are broached in this tale. Poet Frank Prem.

  Beautifully written and poetic fantasy novel that perfectly sustains mystery and drama throughout the pages. The characters are very vivid and the world is rich in detail and atmosphere. Marjorie is excellent at painting imaginative and believable scenes with words and magic. A fantastic debut! Looking forward to her next book. Author/Illustrator Alina Surnaite

  Prologue

  Most people would call our existence strange, but this is more than that; this deserves a headline. We’re not spectacular enough to feature on the national or international news, but we warranted a column in the local newspaper headed by seven not so lucky words: Missing Father Returns After Weird Aging Phenomenon. I’m glad that our short-lived fame died and the paparazzi, (what a joke,) got bored with us. Now we can get back to the day to day living if you can call it that.

  We live in a typical suburb of Cambridge in an untypical house. It’s no bungalow, the floors just go on and on, and so do the rumours about us. When I say we, I mean our strange extended family comprising mature, tantrum-prone Mum, Dad (alias: old man before his time), teenage me, the most stable of us all (I think), and self-harming Esme, who isn’t my sister but might as well be. I could write a whole book devoted to her alone. Oh, and I forgot to mention our permanent house guest, Shadow, a black cat of indeterminate age and parentage who arrived one day and never left. The rest of the inhabitants of our household (except perhaps for me and Shadow, although his status is open to debate) are dysfunctional, weirded-out characters.

  I have to cope with a lot (and that’s an understatement), so I resort to painting, rock-and-roll, collecting crystals, and writing songs and poetry. I enjoy writing haiku, a Japanese form of poetry with three lines and some syllables to count. It soothes me. I write Tanka too; adding two longer lines at the end, which soothes me more. Each poetic puzzle I jot down serves as a clue for less afflicted folk to decipher what the hell I am talking about.

  So, what am I talking about? The trouble is I don’t know; I’m still muddling through. Although I expect it’s a cry for help (a yell), combined with me dissecting the details about Mum’s life, Dad’s existence and his disappearance, Esme’s imprisonment, and Shadow’s ability to appear and reappear at a moment’s notice. And that’s saying nothing about living in a house that feels like a living being!

  Yes, I joke to stay sane. That’s a lot to process (sorry), and it’s only a fraction, a haiku tidbit, so let’s keep it simple but poetic and start with a view.

  A view, I jest not; I saw this sky through my kitchen window today…

  Puzzle Piece 1:

  The Invitation

  Opportunity,

  An unexpected invite,

  Such a mystery,

  To explore and discover,

  A hidden cottage of light.

  I found it to be a mystifying situation. An unnatural stillness seemed to linger after many days of storms. Today, the sky reminded me of a painting. It appeared too perfect, too bright, too still, a picture landscape with no beginning or end. Instead, the vault of heaven spread out toward an endless grey forever, as if seeping around the edges of an untamed watercolour bleeding into the rest of the day. Even so, the sight filled my heart with promise, a ray of hope in an otherwise dull morning.

  The quietness of my contemplation came to an abrupt end. I heard the sound of an envelope crashing through the mailbox. I jumped at the clatter. The letter landed on the floor as the sound of a thousand crystal chandeliers echoed throughout the house. I rushed to retrieve the envelope and turned it this way and that. I couldn’t find an address label and wondered if the note had been hand-delivered. Who could this message be for?

  I stood puzzling over this peculiar circumstance when out of nowhere my name: Amelina Scott appeared in bold writing. I watched wide-eyed as the final character of my surname was spelled out in a delicate font. I tore the dispatch open and inside I discovered a card printed on the finest paper with gilt edges and embossed calligraphy. There were few details, just an instruction to visit:

  Crystal Cottage, River Walk, Cambridge, and the following added at the bottom as an afterthought: R.S.V.P—Not required. We promise to be welcoming when you arrive. When you’re ready, you’ll discover us.

  I shook my head in disbelief. Nothing good ever happened to the Scotts, so this invitation might have looked magical, but surely it must have been nonsense. Weird messages from unknown sources counted as dubious junk mail, the way I looked at it.

  I grabbed the envelope and attempted to rip it into pieces, but it wouldn’t tear. With a mind of its own the envelope curled its edges in protest. I searched in a drawer until I found scissors and tried to cut the invite. That didn’t work either. My hand ached, but the invitation endured intact as if mocking me.

  Frustrated, I tried to cut the invitation again. A sputtered cursing sound filled the room even though I was alone. On my third attempt, I tore into the card with success. (I think it let me.) And once again, I perceived a noise, an angry murmur, and then nothing. Quiet descended in the room, so I threw the torn parts
into the bin.

  Finally satisfied that the annoying issue with the strange invite would no longer plague me, I brushed my hands together and picked an apple out of the bowl on the kitchen counter, polished it on my jumper and then took a bite. In no time my hunger had abated, and as I chucked the core towards the bin, I registered a chuckle. I stopped, my feet rooted to the ground as a feeling of certainty filled my soul. I knew what to expect. I have no idea how I did, but I could see the image in my mind, the invitation had reformed. The invitation was playing games with me! I peered in the rubbish, and there I saw the envelope, connected in one perfect, unblemished piece.

  ‘What the heck?’

  I picked up the frustrating item. This time I took no chances. I cut it into tiny postage stamp-sized bits and left it on the counter. I didn’t have to eat another morsel of fruit to observe what happened next. The invite laughed. It knitted itself in quick succession in front of my eyes. My heart hammered a staccato beat in my chest. Even though I lived with weirdness every day of my life, this strange envelope and its contents had begun to faze me.