The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is a attempt to write a complete (and very rough) draft of a novel by writing for fifteen minutes each day. I have taken a timed writing from one of the daily prompts done in 2021, cleaned it up a little and used it as my jumping off point into a story. Each day I will take the last line of the story written the day before and use it as my sentence starter and write for fifteen minutes, growing the story as the year progresses.
Day 98: “Anya I don’t see any words.”
“Anya I don’t see any words.” Marta looked from the book to Anya’s face.
Anya looked back down at the book. The gold letters were flaky but the words were still visible. Yet Marta couldn’t see them. ‘Just like she couldn’t see the door into the study.’
Anya opened the book and turned to the fly leaf. It had the same title written on it as on the spine. “See, the same title,” Anya said. She held the book out to Marta. Marta’s frown deepened.
“Anya, that’s a blank page,” Marta said. Anya looked back down at the book. She could read the words as clearly as any other books she had seen. She slowly turned the pages and saw row after row of text. She looked up at Marta who shook her head.
“It’s just a book of blank pages,” she said. “May I see it?” Anya closed the book and handed it to her.
Marta studied the spine, shaking her head looking bewildered. She went to lift the cover to peer again at the pages but the cover wouldn’t bend. The book wouldn’t open. Marta tugged at the cover but the book wouldn’t open.
“I suppose it must be stiff,” Marta joked. She handed it back to Anya. Unable to resist, Anya lifted the cover. The book opened easily. “I suppose the book doesn’t like me as much as it likes you.”
“But that makes no sense,” Anya said. “Why would a book open for me and not for you?”
Marta looked at the book thoughtfully. “There are stories…” she began. Her gaze drifted to the wall panel open now the study in plain view of the hall, or at least to Anya.
“Stories,” Anya prompted her.
Marta shook her head. “There is a story about those who walked the path of deep magic becoming worried that those without the skill to control it would delve too deeply into knowledge they shouldn’t have. The stories I heard said they protected their secrets.”
“But the vision in the basin, that was magic,” Anya said.
“Seasonal, as are the skills of the others who live here. In the season of the Star we are given gifts so that we may better help others find their way. As the season of the Star fades, so do those skills. I will not be able to look into the basin and see anything more than water until next season. “
Anya looked at the book and then looked back to the open doorway. “And you think I’m different?” she asked.
Marta smiled. “I know you are different. This just confirms it. You must be similar to those who sealed their spaces, otherwise you would not be able to see them, enter their spaces or read their books.” Marta gestured to the book Anya held. “Which proves we had best develop a training system for you sooner rather than later.” She looked to the wall. “Is the door…open?” she asked.
“Yes,” Anya replied.
“Ah, well then perhaps you had better close it. Even if no one can see it, there is always the chance someone might stumble in.” She stopped recalling she felt only a flat wall when she tried to enter. “Or maybe not, I suppose. Still, perhaps it will be best to close it.”
Ten til Midnight 