Mystic Rising

by J L Lawrence

  “She told him the only way to obtain this feat would be to sever all ties with other realms. They could handle all the future battles on their own. He had to perform three evil acts. Of course, she called them tests to prove his loyalty. First, he had to sacrifice his firstborn. Second, he needed to kill an innocent. Last, the Mystic amulet had to be destroyed. As long as it existed within the realm, order could always be restored.

  “Angora cleverly gave him all the tools he needed, including the curse he cast that fateful night. By the time he returned home, the Rising had begun. He sent his oldest two sons to the front lines. He assumed they’d die in battle, and if he was lucky, the amulet would be destroyed.”

  Kate fought to control her reactions. He’d willingly sacrificed his own sons. That stupid SOB. Taking several breaths, she brought her focus back to the story.

  “His two eldest sons were killed by the superdemons, so the first task was complete. The amulet stayed intact. Zane in his naïveté gave it to Laxus for safekeeping. Ari became suspicious of her mate’s disappearances and his decision to send their sons to the front lines. She began watching him closely. She searched for the truth night and day. It became her obsession. She stopped eating and sleeping. Finally, she broke through the barriers in his mind and discovered the truth. They had a horrible fight. She intended to tell Zane, and Laxus would’ve been executed for his crimes, restoring order to the realm. Instead, he killed Ari using a potion from Angora, completing his second task.”

  He paused to give them a moment to digest all the information. Ari hadn’t died from a broken heart. She’d fought for her sons until her last breath. Zane had always believed she’d given up on them. He’d been wrong. She’d given her life to uphold everything the warriors believed. Too bad Laxus had already been terminated. That’s one she’d have liked to help with. She nodded for Cillian to continue.

  “Very well. The third task required the destruction of the amulet. After Ari died, Zane suspected Laxus had gone crazy. He mistakenly blamed grief, but greed and envy had claimed him. He’d become drunk on his own power. He performed the ritual as Zane described to you. What the brothers never knew was that the real strength of the curse lay in the blood he added from his slain sons and wife. Pure evil destroyed the amulet. Zane and his brothers killed Laxus. Angora didn’t show him that. It will take divine intervention to restore the sacred piece completely.

  “However, your portion can be repaired by completing the trials. Zane and his brothers will have their own quest for redemption when the time is right.” Cillian sighed deeply and smiled like he’d given her a happy ending. She wasn’t so sure.

  The pretty witch beside him waved her hand, and a feast appeared on the table. Kate didn’t feel like eating, but didn’t want to risk insulting them before they answered her second question. She forced food into her mouth to slow the questions filling her mind. Her heart ached for Zane. This would be a horrible blow to his entire family and realm. Maybe he didn’t need to know. Would it change anything? No, she’d tell the truth because he deserved to know how much his mother loved him and the horrifying sins of his father. He’d broken the sacred bond of their people.

  After eating a respectable amount of food, she pushed her plate to the side to indicate she wanted to know the answer to her second question. Cillian cleared the table and obliged her unspoken request.

  “Your second question is much less disturbing. It simply signifies the impact of choices and led you here. I’m grateful for that because it allowed our freedom.

  “On the night of your birth, Cassius planted a vision for your parents and grandparents.” He paused and shook his head. “Let me go back a little. Cassius and Guinevere loved you very much. Through her abilities, they’d seen everything you could become. Their attachment led them to make disastrous decisions on your behalf. Because their intentions were not motivated by evil, your path to correcting the amulet is not as severe. It also allowed Cassius to leave footprints, a way of leaving messages behind to those in need. That’s why you’ve had so many conversations with him. He chose to remain trapped in an in-between realm of solitude, using windows to communicate. A harsh existence to endure. Guinevere crossed over to the Spirit or Eternal Realm as many now call it.”

  No.

  He’d given up his eternity with Guinevere to guide her. This new information certainly didn’t alleviate any guilt already running rampant in her heart. It struck her that he’d known the price. They both had. Everything had been perfectly planned to aid her in the journey of becoming the Mystic. Destiny could not be deceived or changed. Neither had wanted her raised in the dark. They’d followed the path to give her every advantage. A blended life to know all realms and unite them in battle. So what had gone wrong?

  “The night of your birth created chaos and triumph all at once.” He spoke softly and patted her hand. “The disturbance in the balance of power shook the core of all realms. However, only Rowena recognized it as your birth, due to her counter spell. All others believed it to be an Awakening. The Hell Realm launched an attack and tossed every stone to find the new power. Mistakes were made. As you know, Lily Montgomery paid the price. Rowena sent the Guardian to find his charge. She didn’t know Cassius had already left instructions with your parents.”

  What the… How could that be?

  “Your birth created the first window that Cassius used to send a message. He appeared in the hospital room when the doctors and nurses left. Your parents and grandparents remained. Everyone panicked when he arrived, except your grandfather, Smitty. Good man, he was. He’d been given several dreams because he hailed from the line of Cassius.

  “Smitty welcomed him, while the rest cowered in silence. They had turned into straight-laced humans by that generation. Not a fan, myself.” He cleared his throat and continued. “Why don’t I show you?” He waved a hand in front of her face, and she fell into a trance, transported back in time.

  Papa bowed and shook Cassius’s hand. “Welcome, my friend. I’ve dreamed about your mission but didn’t believe until now. You’ve come because of her, haven’t you?” He extended his arm toward the crib. The tiny baby gurgled but stared straight at Cassius, cognitive of her surroundings. How?

  Her mom gripped her dad’s hand. She reeked of fear. “What are you? Why are you here?”

  “Forgive my intrusion. I’m a spirit guide for your daughter…” He paused waiting for her name.

  “Cadence Hope Smith.” Her grandfather answered, when her mother refused. “We call her Kate.”

  “Good strong name.” The light around him grew until they shielded their eyes. He placed a finger on the baby’s cheek and bent to kiss her. “Kate, my daughter,” he whispered, “I’ve waited so long.”

  He turned back to her parents. “This child has been given a miraculous destiny. She will become the Mystic, savior to all. Her powers will know no limits, and her heart will be full of compassion and light. She must join others like her in a place called the Meadows. Until she’s ready, she must be trained and prepared. She’s already been assigned a Guardian to keep her safe. Many years from now, she will fight in a battle called the Rising to protect all magical and human men and women. She’s the only one who can save this world you covet. Make sure she’s trained so her powers will develop over time. This will aid her ability to enter the Meadows and embrace her destiny. You must do as I have instructed.”

  “No!” She’d never heard her mother sound so forceful. “You will not take my child. She belongs to us and will never know this crazy magic you speak of. It’s evil. Her future won’t be tainted by your lies. My baby girl will be completely normal and have none of the wicked powers you mentioned.”

  Cassius stared at her for a moment like he wanted to smack her, but he straightened his shoulders. “Woman, I’m the previous Mystic. I defeated evil so you could have this world you love. So you could hold the child you bore. Do not throw your careless insults. Fear has a strong grip on you. It will be your downfall, if yo
u cannot open your eyes.”

  He raised his hand to silence her. When she didn’t take the hint, he literally froze her tongue. “Listen to me, you ridiculous human. She’ll never be normal. Her abilities will answer the call of justice and her heart will protect the innocent. When you wake up and know this to be true, give her this locket.” He floated a gold intricate locket. Phoenix wings were imprinted across the front. Her name had been engraved on the back.

  “She’ll never be one of you. You’ll see. I’ll raise her to be a perfectly normal child and she’ll never need this locket.” Her mutinous expression covered the deep-rooted fear inside.

  Cassius had grown weary and began to fade. “Her Guardian’s name is Xander. He can help guide her and make her life a little easier. He can prepare her for all the challenges ahead. There’s no escape for her, but you can choose to help her.” He turned to her grandfather. “Talk to your daughter. Help her see reason. Only she can call him to protect the child. Don’t leave her in the dark. That path will hurt so much more.”

  “She is our only hope. Choose wisely.” He disappeared.

  Her mother’s eyes were nearly black, filled with anger and pain. “She’ll have nothing to do with this. We’ll never speak of this again.”

  The venomous tone of her mother’s voice rang in her ears as she emerged from the memory.

  She’d seen that golden locket as a child. When she’d asked her mother about it, she had told her it was a gift from her dad before he left them. It had always brought them bad luck, so she was told to never mention it again. Her mom remarried that same year to a wonderful man she called Dad. She’d resented the piece of jewelry left by her birth father. And hadn’t seen it again until her mother gave it to her on her wedding day.

  “How can this be?” It popped out before she could stop it. “She knew. All along she’d known my fate, forcing me to be normal in a world I didn’t belong. There’s too much betrayal in this world.”

  Xander comforted her. “Please excuse her question. This is a bit overwhelming to digest. We appreciate the glimpses into the past to help guide our way.”

  He started to lead her away from the table. She couldn’t speak because she knew a lot more questions would tumble out. Cillian appeared in front of them and placed a hand on her cheek.

  “Human minds aren’t equipped to see what they deem to be impossible. She chose to protect you out of love, never betrayal. She wanted you to have a peaceful life free from battles and evil. Don’t blame her for not being able to atone for Cassius’s grand plan. At your wedding, her heart finally allowed her mind to see what it had always known. You are the Mystic and extremely special. She could see what I know to be true. Find peace, Mystic. All has happened as it should.”

  He winked. “This answer is given in thanks to our freedom and your tireless search for the truth. You have completed your first task, Mystic. Check your amulet. It will show you the way.”

  Lifting the piece from around her neck, she turned it toward the group and they watched as the scorched edges cleared. The tree still had the splinter down the middle and the branches appeared dead. But progress had been made.

  At least, I’m moving in the right direction.

  The emotional roller coaster had rattled her. Cillian had been right about her mother. She’d fought against the truth when Xander told her. She’d have done the same if someone had appeared in her hospital room trying to stake a claim on her child. No, she didn’t blame her, but that one decision had redesigned her future and given her a tougher path.

  Maybe I’m better for it.

  Zane’s past disturbed her more. She’d find forgiveness for her mother, but Zane would never find peace. His father had killed his mother and brothers, and he’d potentially destroyed the entire world. The guilt would consume him. Would the brothers be able to unite their realm or fall as Angora had always intended? She’d bet anything, Fury hadn’t been the only puppet of Lucian.

  He’s a crafty SOB, but so am I.

  They returned to their rooms, and she crashed immediately.

  Chapter 9

  “Are you certain this is a wise decision, Nikki?” Rowena laced and unlaced her hands. Her nervousness seemed out of place yet understandable. In a short matter of time, all her decisions would help save the world or curse it. She also didn’t want to cross Kate. Who did? In all fairness, what she had proposed could mean trouble.

  Rowena had invited Nikki into her personal chambers. A rare allowance. She didn’t want anyone else to know what they discussed. Kate had sent everything she’d learned to Rowena, Marcus, and herself. They decided to share the information with the Council then swore them to secrecy. Cass’s attempt to correct his mistake gave them more information about Kate and her path to becoming a full Mystic. She just had to restore all faith in the Mystic. Easy enough.

  Sort of.

  No, the real problem came in the form of Laxus and Ari. Zane and his brothers would be absolutely devastated. She couldn’t fault Rowena’s point that this could drive them away from the Rising entirely and affect all the realms. They were still needed to provide cover and set traps. But did that justify hiding the truth?

  She took Rowena’s fidgeting hands and halted her pacing. “You know this is the right thing to do. Kate agreed to let me deliver the message in person, and she will fill in any holes or answer questions when she returns. Secrets cause destruction. With everything she’s endured and all the betrayal from loved ones, she’d never allow silence on this issue. She’d give them the choice and trust that they’ll make the right one. Zane deserves that much. His brothers, too. They’ve fought so hard to come back to us.” Rowena didn’t look completely convinced but couldn’t deny the truth. Secrets and lies had cost them too much.

  “Please, Rowena. I can’t go alone. You must take me to see them.” She also had a hidden agenda and some personal business to address. She needed to talk to Storm about their own future. Things had gotten complicated and strained.

  “Very well.” Rowena transferred her gown into athletic pants and red shirt. Outside of the training facility, she rarely abandoned her proper gowns. In her time, they’d been a mark of sophistication. These days, they were simply a hassle. The change in attire didn’t hide her stunning presence. Why did she feel the need to be prepared for a fight? How bad did she expect their reaction to be?

  The portal opened and they turned to enter. Her dad rushed in and hugged her briefly. He wished them good luck as the portal closed behind them. The splendid great hall of the Shadow Warriors stood before them. She’d warned Storm that they were coming with news and Kate’s progress. And that he might want to keep it between him and Zane. They’d set the table with snacks and drinks. Comfortable chairs had been added at one end. Nothing left to do but tell the truth.

  Zane stepped out of his study and Storm joined him. Zane motioned for them to take a seat. “To what do we owe this pleasure? Kate must have discovered something important to require all the secrecy.”

  “She successfully completed her first test by gaining the true knowledge of the past. The amulet shows signs of repair. The second trial will begin in a couple days.” She hesitated. I’m such a coward. “One of the truths had to deal with her birth. Cassius warned her parents and tried to put her life back on the path to becoming a Mystic. He meant for her to be trained but her mother refused. She’s dealt with the issues and realizes she must serve the penance of his misguided interference. My personal opinion is that this is how it had to be to correct the Mystic lineage. But I could be wrong.”

  “And the second truth you seem so hesitant to say? I know you didn’t come into my realm to tell me Kate had a rough childhood.”

  Crap. Time to rip off the band-aid. Taking a deep breath, she reached for Storm’s hand. Rowena placed hers on Zane’s arm. “The second is, Laxus betrayed your entire realm. He wasn’t crazy, Zane. He sent your brothers to die because he knew about the superdemons and how to kill them.” The pain inside them broug
ht tears to her eyes but she had to get this out. Tears fell down her cheeks as she continued. “Ari didn’t die of a broken heart. She fought for you and all your brothers. She tried to tell you, but Laxus killed her before she got the chance. The reason you can’t reverse the curse is because he used the blood of your mother and brothers to seal it. Only an act of pure evil could obliterate the amulet and sever all ties between your realm and all others.”

  Neither spoke. Emotion clogged Storm’s thoughts. “Kate transferred the whole story to me. I’ll send it to Storm, and he to you. I’m afraid I can’t answer many questions. But we believed you should know the whole truth. I’m sorry.”

  They closed their eyes as the whole story unfolded. Storm lowered his head into his hands and quietly wept. She’d only seen that emotion one other time on the day he’d been ripped away from her. His sorrow and shame immobilized him. Zane had a different reaction. He slammed his fists onto the table. His face turned a deep red. Rowena pushed Nikki behind her back and placed a shield around them.

  His anger and guilt continued to build until everything in the once beautiful room had been destroyed by a tidal wave of emotion. The castle walls shook. Rage shined in his eyes. And grief. He couldn’t get control. He blamed himself for all that had happened. He’d handed his father the key to their destruction. He hadn’t seen the truth right in front of his eyes. Everything he’d fought so hard to rebuild came crashing down.

  Dagger and the rest of his brothers came in and held him until his errant powers subsided. They didn’t believe in secrets either. Storm sent them all the details. After emotions calmed and clearer heads prevailed, they sat back down at the table Rowena had repaired.

  “Brothers, we must make a decision about our future. Should our line abdicate as leader? We’ve failed to uphold the laws of our people. The sins of our father have been passed to us. Maybe it’s time for a new direction. Then, our warriors can find a new peace and repair the damage.”