The Dark Legacy by K.G. McAbee

Novel

‘When the paintings seem to glimmer, then the portals start to shimmer…’

Noah Macgregor can’t get that nonsensical line of poetry from an old journal out of his head.

And he certainly didn’t intend to get his sister, his dog and himself trapped in a different time.

It was an accident. He and Holli were just following their dog Gilbert through the dark hallways of the old house on the South Carolina coast that once belonged to the dread pirate Captain Ambrose Craven. They find Gilbert just in time to see him run full speed into…and it looks like, through…a painting. Naturally, they follow their dog; wouldn’t you? And Noah has at least a vague idea of what might be on the other side, thanks to that old journal.

But just imagine their surprise when, on the other side of the painting, he and his sister find themselves in a strange sort of colonial South Carolina, where animals talk and skeletons walk. Stranger still, Captain Ambrose Craven is alive, even more terrible than his reputation, and has a diabolical plan in mind for the kids.

Worse, though, is that Noah and Holli are not exactly sure how to get home…

2008 Dream Realm Award WINNER!

" W-O-W! This new series is good for ages ten to adult. If the rest of the series is as great as this first novel, the author will be on the Best Sellers list in the near future. "

~Detra Fitch for

©Huntress Book Reviews

"This superb story grabbed me hook, line and sinker. I couldn't bear to put it down for even one minute! I was totally engrossed and immersed in this amazing tale! All I can say is I cannot wait to see what this fine author has in store for Noah, Holli, Gilbert and all of their new friends! My 11 year old daughter is chomping at the bit to get her hands on this one!"

~Kathy Boswell

©The Best Reviews

"...The Dark Legacy is a good read. I could not help but fall in love with Noah and Holli. They are two adventurous children that get in trouble and their layers of expressions are reflected in the pages. Theirs is a fantastic journey that makes the reader want to come along. K.G. McAbee spins an amazing fantasy that captivates. The tale is fast-paced and keeps the reader turning the pages. I can hardly wait to see what other adventures the children find themselves in with Book 2. "

~Cherokee

©Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

"...This story is a cute beginning to an intriguing new series. My nine year old son and I both enjoyed following the adventures Noah, Holli, and Gilbert found themselves in. We will be watching for book two’s release to find out what happens next. K. G. McAbee managed to squeeze in a lot of fun elements into this one story; there is a mystery, a fantasy world, talking animals, pirates, and plenty of adventure to keep one entertained. If you or your child like a little mystery and fantasy with your adventure pick up this story and escape into a world of make believe."

~Reviewed by: Stephanie B.

© Fallen Angel Reviews

"...Young readers and old will chase Noah, Holli, and Gilbert not only through the painting, but also through the pages of this fast-paced, enchanting romp. This book is part gothic novel, part mystery, part fantasy, and entirely delightful. Gail McAbee’s first foray into the young adult market is a rousing success."

~Louanne Clayton Jacobs

© 2008 MyShelf.com

Note: Scroll to the bottom of the page to download a printable drawing to color.

"Lost in the distant past... threatened by the deadliest foes... running out of dog biscuits...THE DARK LEGACY."

Prologue

From the journal of Alphonse Antoine Baptiste Marie Merceau (translated from the French, and written in a dark liquid that appears to be blood), dated March 27, 1754:

At last, at last! After too many dreary nights and days of despair, at last a faint glimmer of hope gleams palely upon the horizon!

I know now precisely how he does it, how the fearful creature – for I will not call him a man – who holds my life in his hands has used me and my poor talent to create this horrible reality.

And knowing, surely I will be able to prevent his horrifying plans for the future, not only of this innocent world, but of what may well be a great many other worlds besides?

It will not be a simple matter. It will take all my ability, and so very much more.

It will not be quick. I must plan and work – in secret, always in secret – and strive ever to keep the knowledge I have gathered, through toil and danger, from that monster.

But what other course is there? I am responsible for everything that has happened. It lies now with me to correct all that I have done, to return this world to its proper place, to protect other worlds from his taint.

But I will need help.

 And I believe I know where I can find it…

 

Chapter One

Arrival

Present day…

Noah Macgregor glanced out the window for about the dozenth time in the last five minutes. Nothing but trees. No cars in either direction.

"Are we there yet?" he asked hopefully.

His mom turned the air conditioner up another notch, then glanced over her shoulder from the front seat and smiled at Noah. "I'm sure we're almost there, honey. It's –" She gave another fold to the map she had spread across her lap. "Well, it looks like it's just about two more miles to the turn-off. Ham, do you recognize anything yet?"

Hamish Macgregor shook his head, his red hair blazing in the late afternoon South Carolina sunshine. "Not really, Amelia, but remember, I haven't been here since I was eight."

"Wow, that was like ice ages ago, huh, Dad?" Holli, Noah's older sister, laughed.

"Yes, it was eons ago, my child," croaked Ham in his old codger voice. "Back around the turn of the century it was, when the stagecoaches were still running. Ah, I remember it well. Took days to trek into town where we bought pickles from barrels, when we weren't hunting possums for food."

"There were pirates around here, weren't there, Dad?"

"Yup, tons of pirates all through this area. In fact," Ham turned his head to glance at his wife, then went on in a deep and creepy voice, "there were rumors that Captain Ambrose Craven built our house using the vast treasures he stole in his days as a pirate. He's the one who named it Rest-And-Be-Thankful."

"No kidding, Dad? I didn't know he was a real pirate!" Noah jumped up and down in his seat, then grabbed one of the books in the pile beside him and started flipping through the pages. "Craven, Craven…" he muttered.

"Oh, here we go." Holli put down her pencil – she'd been sketching the trees draped with Spanish moss – and tucked her pale blonde hair behind her ears. "Dork boy back to his dorky history books."

"Not nearly as dorky as your boring pictures," Noah replied, as he always did. But his heart wasn't in it this time.

Pirates! He tried to read about them, but the road was too bumpy. He put the book back in the pile, rolled his window down and took a deep breath of the salt-tinged air – then rolled it back up fast at the blast of heat.

Holli grumbled under her breath as she dusted sand off her drawing.

Noah sighed and turned to look out the window. He wondered how long it would take him to pick up a southern accent. He took a deep breath, reminded himself to talk as slow as possible, and said, "Soooo, Dayud… ah we'all thaya yayut?"

Holli snickered and stopped drawing. "That, Noey, was the worst Southern accent I think I've ever heard. Face it, you cannot get a Southern accent in a couple of days. It takes years, at least, if not being born here, so –"

Holli was interrupted by a reverberating snore that echoed from the back of the overstuffed mini-van. The snore bounced off the windows, then broke off into a snuffling grunt accompanied by a volley of snorts, and a series of scratching, scrambling sounds. A shaggy head accompanied by a puff of flying hairs rose slowly over the back of the kids' seat, and a wide mouth fell open. A long pink tongue unrolled. A soft woof heralded a strand of drool that began to trickle lazily from one side of the mouth.

"Yes, you can have a cookie, Gilbert sweetie." Holli leaned over and dug into the box of dog biscuits in the floor between her and Noah, then handed one to the overweight black Lab. Gilbert gave a quick chew – chewing was the only thing the Lab ever did quickly – and swallowed it in a single gulp. He turned his head and gave Noah a hopeful look from his sad brown eyes, the look that was so hard for Noah to ignore.

"Dad, will there be anybody at the house?" Holli closed her drawing pad and tucked it into her green cardboard portfolio.

"Mr. Ravenel, the lawyer, said two of Great-Uncle Enoch's servants are staying on, at least for a little while, until we get settled. In fact, they may stay all summer, if we want them to."

The van rocked as Ham Macgregor turned into the side road. Noah reached behind the seat and patted Gilbert, who'd slid around a little during the turn.

The road was crushed shell. It twisted and turned, seemed almost to loop back on itself at times, and the heavy undergrowth on each side made it seem as if the van was traveling through a long green tunnel of vegetation.

A turn.

The heat came up in waves that made the air ripple and jump.

Another turn.

"Uh, Dad? Does this road ever end?"

"Doesn't look like it will, does it, Holli?" Ham's voice was cheerful and eager. "I remember the summers when I visited, I always wondered the same thing. But it won't be much longer…"

Just at that instant, the car came out of the green tunnel.

But there was no house in front of them.

Instead, an open pair of tall gates sagged on either side of the road. The gates were made of iron uprights with sharp-looking, spear-shaped points connected by thick bars of iron. Everything was red-brown with rust. Each gate hung from a massive stone column. The one on the right side of the road was topped with a grinning gargoyle with one arm clinging to an anchor. The column on the left had a huge buzzard perched on top, its neck crooked as it seemed to glare down at the Macgregor van.

Then the buzzard spread its wings and flew off.

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