The Ring of Imperium

Chapter 1

Author's Note

Hello there. Just as a warning, this is my first book, so... If you have something rude to say, just stop reading. There's no point in saying something about a free book you can just close and read a different book. But as I said earlier, this is my first book, so I will accept constructive criticism to help improve it. And now... I present... A book that I hope doesn't suck. The Ring of Imperium.

Chapter 1

I woke up in the middle of the night. Normally I would easily be able to sleep through a storm, but for some reason, tonight I couldn't. I groaned as I got out of bed and shuffled downstairs to get a glass of water. But as I reached for a cup, I felt as if I needed to go outside. I had no idea why. I mean, I'm not crazy or anything, to want to go outside in the middle of a raging storm. However, the longer I waited, the stronger the urge became to open the back door and step out into the yard. I just shrugged, went and got my raincoat and boots, and went outside. Immediately as I stepped out the door, I felt another urge, even stronger this time, to go to the rickety old shed where my late grandmother kept all of her gardening tools. Again, I obeyed and sloshed my way over to it. I tried opening the door, but it wouldn't budge even an inch. There wasn't even a lock! Right then, I had officially considered myself crazy and was about to turn around, go back inside, and schedule myself a session with a psychologist. Here I was, standing in the middle of my backyard, soaked to the bone despite having a raincoat, all muddy and shivering, for no reason other than "my mind told me to", and yet just as I had taken one step in the direction of my warm house, I heard a voice in my head.

"Turn around."

"Okay," I told myself. "You're either having a really weird dream or you're actually crazy."

"No, seriously! Turn around!"

Not knowing why I was listening to the voice, I turned around. As soon as I did, a huge gust of wind came rushing from behind me, knocking me flat on my face and slamming the door to the shed open with a loud bang.

"Now go inside to the very back," the voice said.

The weird thing was that the voice was coming from inside my head, but it wasn't me. I had never heard that voice in my life before. But again, just as before, I obeyed, scrambling to my feet and stepped inside. The entire short walk to the end of the cobweb-infested shed I was shivering and my teeth were chattering so loud I think even the neighbors could hear them. When I reached the end, I asked the voice,

"Now what." But all that I heard was the steady drumming of rain on the roof and the occasional crack of thunder. But after a few seconds of me thinking of all the possible reasons I could be going insane, it was like I was going into a trance. Without even thinking, I reached for the odd-looking spade on the wall that I'd never seen my grandmother ever use before, but yet the handle was still worn. But the blade itself was in brand-new condition. My hand wrapped around the handle and I twisted it clockwise, still not knowing what I was doing. I watched as my hand twisted the spade once clockwise, then three times counterclockwise. Then, to my amazement, a section of the wood-paneled floor folded itself over, revealing a dark staircase that spiraled down into who knows where. I looked around the tiny shed, finding what I'd been searching for. I quickly grabbed the flashlight off the bench, turned it on, took a deep breath, and took the first step down the stone steps, still hoping that it was all a dream.

I know it's kinda short, but they'll get longer. So, what did you think?

If anyone has a cover I can use, feel free to send it to me.

Any suggestions for improvement?

What do you think is down the staircase?

Any suggestions for character names?