The Family Tree

By:  Tammy Vreeland

Katherine looks down at the book as she lightly runs her fingers over the cover.  She can feel the raised insignia of the oak tree with mistletoe in the branches. The title is elegantly written with beautiful penmanship which spells out "The Family Tree".

She timidly opens the book and looks down at the familiar pages in front of her. Tears begin to form in her eyes as she subconsciously rubs her stomach.

Katherine thumbs through the pages.  She has always been taught that through her  past her future is determined.  But, she does not like what her future is to bring.

Why are her ancestor's allowed to decide the fate of her unborn twins?  Why can't she have a choice?  Don't they know what the consequences are?  Or, are they so blind to the religion that they don't see it for what it really is?

Again, Katherine thinks about the title of the book.  Her Family Tree certainly has deep dark roots.  Many branches fill the tree but all are tied to one dark secret.

Katherine realizes she is the one that must cut this tree down.  But, how and at what cost?   She feels a kick from one of the twins and this gives her hope.

The key has to be the religion.  What its origins are, why it was created and how to destroy it. The religion is so old and forgotten that only through tradition has it survived.

Katherine thinks to herself, maybe this generation needs to start a tradition of their  own!


PROLOGUE


The moon is high and it is time for the gathering.  Many have come from different villages both far and wide.  Tonight is a special night, one with the possibility of a solution.

All gather, in dark robes, around the sacred oak tree.  Only one, robed in pure white, stands at the base of the tree.  Two pure white oxen are led to the tree for sacrifice.  The first one he stabs in the heart with a golden knife.  Carefully he watches how it falls and the way the blood gushes out of the oxen.  Puzzled he shakes his head.

He then proceeds to do the same to the next oxen.  Again, he looks puzzled.  Turning back towards the tree, he lifts his knife and cuts the mistletoe from it.  Carefully he places it on the ground. 

The followers watch in anticipation while the ceremony continues. Clouds begin to cover the clear skies.  Soon rumbling is heard in the background.  Lightening suddenly strikes the tree.

Scared the followers step back and yet the white robed figure remains in place.  There by his feet falls an acorn split in two.   He smiles and looks into the crowd.  There he finds a young woman and points to her. 

Tentatively she steps forward.  He nods and motions for her to come to him.  Carefully stepping around the oxen, she makes her way towards him.  There she stands trembling, he lays a hand on her shoulder to comfort  her.

He then picks up the white berries from the mistletoe and offers them to her.  She accepts them without question, for she is a follower.  Quickly she swallows them and then looks questioningly to him.  He places the split acorn into her hands.  He looks out to his followers and simply says, "Divide and conquer."


BACKGROUND


"The Family Tree" took me a lot longer to write than any of my other books. I actually dismantled the book three times and then wrote "Class Reunion" as a nice break from it.

Fortunately, I had saved all three of the dismantled stories.  When I finished "Class Reunion" I realized that each story had something worth keeping.

So, I decided to piece together the three different stories.  Before long I found myself  with an almost completed book.  I became so encouraged that I continued to come up with good ideas for the ending.  Within weeks of "Class Reunion" debut "The Family Tree" was going through clean up.

Not exactly the way I like to do things but since last year I hadn't published  anything, I felt it would be ok.  "The Family Tree" is my longest story yet, and it falls right in line with my first three books.

I have a couple of stories that I'm kicking around before I decide what will be the next  book.  Hopefully, it will be finished around  the same time next year and we can get back to a book a year.  A tough task,  but a goal none the less. 

I hope that you enjoy "The Family Tree", it gets a little technical and twisted but it may just make you wonder.  And if it does, even a little bit, I feel I have succeeded.


REVIEWS:

Richaell
5.0 out of 5 starsTwisted! Never expected such an ending! Fantastic..
March 20, 2017
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I love storys that let you travel back and forth in time. How Tammy Vreeland was able to create this story, is truly amazing, she stayed true to the characters, and the story line. Plenty of research went into the druidic religion.. the twist at the end.. is never expected, or normally of what would have come from a story like this.. pick up this book..get comfy, you wont want to put it down.!

No matter how big or small your family is, Protect them!
March 26, 2017A story of great complexity, Tammy Vreeland stayed true to each character, being able to go back and forth between past and present and keep the reader engaged at all times. I could not put Family Tree down. I never expected the ending. Such a twist, leaves you in aww of the mind who created a story such as this.


Lisa Dean73
Posted June 30, 2013


I first bought this book a little over a year ago. I admit, I go through reading and will go weeks without being able to put a book down, to weeks without being able to pick a book up. This book was able to get me back into my reading phase! The author has an unbelievable imagination, with the ability to keep the reader interested from start to finish. I am looking forward to reading more of her books. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes the horror/supernatural/suspense genre.



The Family Tree
Casey Lane
 
This is a very creative and unusual story. The author takes you along for a ride where you're not quite sure where it will end up. Then when its all said and done you can't help but think what a wonderful ride it was and wish it didn't have to end. It can be a little controversial when it comes to religion however the author does a very good job at trying to keep it an even playing ground and then only to upset it completely at the end. I must say it was quite enjoyable. 

Entertaining Book

This was a very entertaining book.  It created a world inside a world making you
think it could be possible. It leads you to one direction only to end up in another, in fact I re-read it to see how the ending could be possible and realized I had missed the little clues along the way.  I highly recommend it!





                                                             

                                                               

                                                     

    ****SIDE NOTE****

Picture





This is the original cover, some sites may not have the newer image available but the order will be filled with the new cover.
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