The Key (#1 of Anna Kippling Series) Paranormal romance by A.D. Duling Read Free

faster by sitting here.” She said aloud and stood
back up.
    She wiped her face again with her sleeve and
traveled on again. She hoped as the sun started to set it would
start becoming cooler and sure enough it did! In fact after another
mile or two the breeze picked up a lot and made the last few miles
for her more bearable.
    The sky was nearly black by the time she saw
the city, the moon was already showing his face or at least half
his face. A tall wall bordered it, preventing her to see anything
inside. As she got closer to the wooden doors of its entrance, a
man in armor yelled down to her.
    “ State your business here!
His voice cracked; revealing his youth.
    She looked up at him, “My name is Anna
Kippling….. I am here looking for family!” She yelled up.
    “ Wait here.” He ordered
and disappeared behind the wall.
    She waited a good while before one of the
gates opened and the same armored man walked over to her.
    “You said you are a Kippling?” He asked. She
nodded as he eyed her up and down. “Your clothing is strange; you
are not from here are you?” he observed.
    “That will be all of the questioning,
Private Donavan.” A voice spoke from behind him.
    The man quickly turned around and gave a
salute, “Yes sir, General!” And he returned back inside.
    The General walked over to her and gave a
slight bow, “Hello Anna, welcome to Tatania.”
    She stood for a moment unsure how to
respond, and then gave him an awkward curtsey.
    He laughed, “A good try! Now my dear, please
come with me.” He offered his arm to her and she grabbed it. He
gave her a smile and patted her hand with his gloved one. “There
are actually two people who would very much like to meet you, Anna
Kippling.” and he led her inside.
    On the other side, it was like stepping back
in time; almost medieval, yet modern as well. He guided her down a
cobblestone road that ran through the center of the city and then
down a few side streets, until finally stopping in front of a house
sitting on the corner.
    He gently unlinked her arm from his and
excused himself.
    She nodded and watched him walk up the house
and knock on its wooden door. The door opened quickly after and a
very beautiful woman stepped out. The General said something to her
and she glanced over at Anna. She stepped back and allowed him to
enter; the door shut quickly behind them.
    A few minutes later the door opened again
and the General stepped back out.
    “ Please come in Anna!” He
beckoned to her.
    She walked over to him and followed him
inside. A young man and the woman she had seen at the door earlier,
stood just inside. The woman walked up and hugged her. “It is so
wonderful to meet you Anna!”
    The young man went over to the table and
pulled a chair out for her, “Please come and have a seat; you must
be very tired!”
    She was very tired and when she sat
down; only then did she realize how much her feet hurt! They sat
down across from her; while the General walked over and leaned
against the hearth behind her. They sat quietly for a moment
smiling at each other.
    “Are we related?” she asked them; to break
the ice.
    “Yes, we are your grandparents.” He answered
her.
    “But you both look too young to be my
grandparents!” She exclaimed.
    He laughed, “Yes probably… here in Tatania
we age differently than where you come from.”
    “Every ten years for you counts as one year
for us.” The woman finished.
    Anna frowned, “Well that sucks!”
    They laughed, “If it would make you feel
more comfortable, you can address us as Nathan and Karina.” He told
her.
    She smiled, “That would be great.”
    Karina stood up, “Oh my dear, you must be
starving! Let me get you something to eat.”
    “Yes, thank you. I missed lunch and am very
thirsty.”
    “ I’ll work on her thirst
dear, while you work on her hunger.” Nathan announced and went over
to the sink behind them and turned on the faucet.
    “You have running water?” She asked
surprised.
    He