Chapter 1 ~ A Recipe For Disaster

Sophie's POV 

“This is impossible.” I managed to say the words.

I reached for the library shelf. The air smelled of old, rusty papers. I touched a worn-out journal. It tingled. Almost like a heartbeat.

“The Ledger of Satiety.” My heart skipped. 

My father told me stories of Alpha Alaric, the legendary king. Now I held his personal journal.

He would teach me ancient recipes and speak of Alpha Alaric while we cooked.

I snatched the book. My excitement caused a mistake. I knocked over my open water bottle.

Liquid spread across the historical pages. I could not stop it.

Oh, no! No, no, no. I muttered.

My hands shook. The librarian would expel me or even worse if she get to see this.

I took the book and ran to the restroom. My heart raced. I entered a stall. I grabbed a paper towel. Dabbed the pages.

Please, please. I whisper a plea.

The towel soaked up the water. New words appeared on the last page. They looked like a dark bruise. The ink was messy.

“My love. If these words reach you. Please come back to me.”

The words felt heavy in my chest. I whispered them aloud without thinking. Please come back to me.

The lights died. The floor disappeared. I hit the wall of the stall. The air now smelled of pine. 

I reached for a door. I found only cold air. 

Then everything went black.

The next thing. A rope was pulling my wrists. I opened my eyes and screamed. The wind took my voice.

I hung six feet in the air. A net held me like a fish. I saw shadows moved around me. 

A man was walking towards me. He was broad. He was majestic. He was taller than any man I'd since. His hair was dark and smoothly combed. 

He looked at me. His eyes had a golden glow. He looked like a king. He also looked like a guy who lives in the woods.

“Pfft.” He scoffed.

His voice was rough. "The Moon Goddess sent a human ghost to mock me?”

“I’m not a ghost!" I struggled against the rope. "I’m a person! Let me down right now, or I’m calling the police!”

He looked at me with confusion. 

He drew out a metal sword.

"You dress like a demon and smell of strange chemicals. You are the spirit sent to punish me for neglecting the sacred ritual."

"I'm a chef, you crazy person!" I screamed.

A whistling sound cut the air. 

Thwip!

A silver arrow flew. It cut the rope and I fell. The man grabbed me before I could gain my balance. His hand locked around my waist.

“Rogue…” He said faintly.

The arrow had hit his shoulder. I could not hold his weight so we fell off a hidden cliff. 

The wind stole the air from my chest as we fell into the ocean.

I dug my fingers into the mud of the river bank. I pulled him out of the river. He was heavy. I fought for breath.

He was numb and cold. Blood soaked his garment.

"Great. This is fantastic." I whispered sarcastically.

I took out a small bottle of hand sanitizer from my pocket. It's all I had left. I'd lost my bag at the edge of the cliff.

I poured the gel onto his wound. His eyes opened immediately. He gripped my hand. I felt his warm breath.

"What are you doing, witch!" 

"I'm stopping the bleeding!" I responded.

"Look! It's working!"

He looked at the plastic bottle. He looked at the wound. 

He looked confused. Like he didn't know what plastic was. 

He started at me. Not knowing whether to kill me or thank me.

He stood up. He started walking toward the trees. I followed him. I needed answers.

We walked for miles. I shook from the cold. My shoes ruined.

We found a small hut. He kicked the wooden gate open.

“You don't just kick down the door of a house that isn't yours.” I yelled.

“Everything in this kingdom belongs to me.” He replied.

“Ha-ha.” I let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Very arrogant.” I muttered.

A young lady came out of the hut. The moment she saw the man. She dropped to her knees.

Your Majesty! She cried. Her voice trembling. "You’re hurt!"

I stared at her. Then at the man. 

“Haha.” I let out a thin, humourous sound. “This is a joke. Is this a movie? Where are the cameras?”

No one laughed.

The lady looked at me with surprise. The man completely ignored me. He sat on a bench outside the hut.

“Come,” the woman urged in a whisper. “Help me fetch water for the King.”

I followed her immediately, my head spinning. 

The King? 

“Why did you call him that? 

Why are you all acting strange? 

Is this a prank?” I asked all questions at the same time.

The lady stopped and turned to me. Her face dead serious. "He is Alpha Alaric, the King of Blackwood. Everyone knows the King, who are you to speak of him so rudely?"

The name hit me like a punch.

“The Tyrant King?” My mouth became dry.

"Wait. What year is it?"

"Everyone knows it's the year of the sacred moon, the year 1525," she said.

“Why are you acting like you are not from around here”. She added.

I could not speak. The bucket fell.

1525. I was five hundred years away from a hot shower, my cell phone, and my life. I was trapped in a history book. Those were the thoughts that flooded my mind. 

We went inside. I couldn't cry. My stomach was empty. I had to cook to stay focused. 

I found meat and carrots. I found rice and herbs. I started a fire. The smell of the food helped me stay sane.

The man sat outside. He was exhausted.

I spoke with Martha while I prepared the meal. I used the tricks my father taught me. I wanted to bring out the flavor of the wild meat. 

I finished cooking. I brought him a bowl.

"Eat," I said, my voice flat. "It's not poisoned."

He gave me a long stare.

“I don't eat food meant for peasants.” He whispered.

I rolled my eyes.

“Then you would have to starve.” I replied.

Martha and I began to eat. I heard his stomach rumble.

I took a spoonful to his mouth.

“Ahh.” I said softly. Signifying he should open his mouth.

He took a cautious bite.

Then he froze.

The hut was quiet. The fire crackled. He looked at the bowl.

A tear dropped from his eye.

“This taste…” His voice broke. “This is my mother’s recipe.” He said softly.

“How do you have her soul in this bowl?” He demanded.

My heart dropped into my stomach because I hadn’t just fed a monster.

I’d reached into his past and I had no idea what that would cost me.