by J. B. Garcia
I see the beam above his head give way and the doorway crumble on top of him. I rush to him as fast as I can and pull his arm moving him out of the doorway. Seconds after the beam breaks and the doorway collapses. Dust fills the air and we both choke on it. I let go of his arm and grabs both my shoulders with force and turns me to face him, “Are you a Mystic?” I don’t know if I should respond to him or not. The last time I told someone about my gift I was branded a psycho and a liar. I stay silent and he shakes my shoulders and asks again, “Tell me! Are you a Mystic!?” I scream back at him, “YES!” He lets me go and turns around paces back and forth. He looks back at me, “But I saw you! You were a werewolf!” I suddenly realize that he must know of the world I was turned away from. Maybe he can help me. I grab his arm and stop his pacing, “Who are you? Where did you find me and where are we now?” He turns away from me and walks to the doorway of the office that has turned to rubble. He starts to pull the rubble out piece by piece throwing it behind him. I stand watching him drag pieces of rotten wood out of the way. “What are you doing?” Bended on one knee, turns his head over his shoulder and says, “I’m trying to get my stuff we need to leave.” I am taken back by this and respond, “We? I don’t even know you?” He ignores my response crawls through an opening he made and grabs a bag. He opens the bag and pulls a clean shirt out and pulls it over his head. He looks to me and says, “My name is Charles and your name is?” I fold my arms and respond, “Where are we and Why did you bring me here?”
“We are in small town outside of Portland, Oregon.” My mouth drops open, “Oregon! Why the fuck did you bring me here? My mother must be looking for me. You took me to another state are you crazy!?” He looks like he is beginning to get annoyed but I don’t care. He kidnapped me!
“I am your guide and when I found you, you were on fire dying in the middle of a street. You must have been attacked by a Pyros. They were gone by the time I got there. I put out the fire and took you away from the town.” What the hell is a Pyros? Is he talking about Michelle? I shake my head and respond, “I still don’t understand why we’re in Oregon.”
“I brought you here because you needed to heal without being disturbed. I needed to bring you where no one knows you. You can never go back to that town.” Rage starts to course through my veins. “You can’t tell me what I can and can’t do! Who do you think you are?” He starts to yell back, “You killed people in that town and they think that you were eaten by huge wolf when they found your ripped up bloodied clothes in an alley! So we need to maintain the image that you are still dead. We have to protect the secrecy of our race. So you are going to stay with me until I can find somewhere for you to live! Do you understand me?” His voice is frightening and forceful. I nod my head yes. He turns away from me and keeps digging in his bag. He turns back around, “Why are you not with the Royal Court anyway?” My face turns red with anger and I clench my fists. I can feel my nails biting into my skin. “She denied me. She would not accept me into the Court.” He looks to the ground and lets out a sigh, “I’m sorry. Well I am here to help you with your new ability” He turns back to his bag and pulls out a pair of shoes and throws them to me. “They are going to be too big but they will do for now.” I slip them on my freezing dirty feet, “Thank you.” He looks back at me and gives me half a smile. “You never told me your name.” I can’t help but smile back and say, “Its Denise. It’s nice to meet you.”
Chapter 6
“Travis I can’t do it! We have been standing out here for hours and I haven’t got any closer to controlling my visions!” I am so frustrated with myself. I don’t understand how I cannot get control of this. Travis told me that if I fully accepted my gift and welcomed it that I would get control of it. We having been standing outside the lake house for so long that I am starting to lose faith in myself. The breeze whips around us swirling dirt and leaves around our feet. Travis can tell that I am losing my faith in this task and walks over to me, “Niki you have to believe in yourself. I think that you are trying too hard. Don’t force it you have to let it flow.” I know that he is trying to help but I cannot help but get angry and yell, “I have been letting it flow, for the last 2 hours. It’s not working!” I throw my hands in the air and stomp back to the lake house. After I get up the steps my heart sinks. I hate when I hurt his feelings just because I am angry. This really is not his fault that I cannot control my gift. I turn around and see him standing alone looking to the ground with one hand in his pocket. I let take a deep breath and say, “Travis I’m sorry. Why don’t we take a break for a little bit?” He nods his head yes and starts to walk towards me. Then I happens, a vision comes to me. A small brown dog runs from the shore towards Travis. It looks lost and harmless. It gets about 5 feet from his before Travis notices that it’s even there. It lunges into the air and shifts into a woman. She has long white hair, black shoes, shirt and pants. The vision begins to slow and I see that she is holding a dagger in her hand. He plunges it into Travis neck, dragging it to the back of his head separating his head from his body. His headless body collapses to the ground.
I snap back into reality and rush down the stairs to Travis. Before I can tell him anything the small brown dog from my vision begins rushing towards us from the shore. Travis thinks nothing of it until I scream the only things that could come to mind, “It’s not a real dog! It’s a woman!” Travis grabs my arm and pushes me behind him. I fall to my back and land on a rake that breaks in half. The dog lunges to the air and Travis crouches down preparing for a fight. I look to my side and pick up the broken half of the rake. As soon as the woman shifts I jump forward and stab the broken rake into her stomach. She lets out a paralyzing scream of pain and hits the ground hard. Crimson blood begins to flow from her stomach and stain the ground around her. I expect for her body to turn to ash and float into the sky like all the other shifters have, but it doesn’t happen. Travis has been staring at me ever since I struck her with the broken rake. I look to him and say, “What? I had a vision. What was I supposed to do let her kill?” He gives me a half smile and shakes his head from side to side. Coughing breaks the silence between us. We both look down to the woman and she is coughing up blood. She opens her eyes and looks around. Travis rips the broken rake from her stomach and she lets out another scream grabbing her wound in pain. Travis jumps on top of her with his hand around her throat. He leans forward and screams into her face, “How many more are here!?” She turns her head to the side spitting out blood onto the dirt. She looks back to Travis with tears of pain streaming from her eyes, “I will tell you nothing.” Travis face becomes filled with anger and leans back punching her wound. Her scream rips through the quiet trees. He hits her again and again and again. My stomach begins to turn seeing all the blood flowing from her body. I look to my feet and its all around me. I don’t know how she is still alive. Travis grabs her blood soaked shirt and pulls her to his face, “You can either tell me now and I will save you or you can choose to have a painful death.” She looks to me and then back to Travis. There is a silence and she looks up to the sky and extends her hand as if she is reaching for something. Travis looks to where she is pointing and there is a large owl sitting on a branch staring down at bloody scene. Travis drops the shifter and stands never breaking eye contact with the owl. “You are going to hide like a coward behind that disguise.” The owl turns its head to the side as if he is intrigued by the question. It extends its large gray wings and floats down to the forest floor. Before his claws touch the dirt it turns into a man. I don’t know how Travis can tell which animal is a shifter. This man looks different than the others. He is tall, handsome and has slicked back black hair. His black suit makes him look almost approachable. He walks to Travis and there are no words spoken. He looks to me and says, “You must be the young Queen.” I don’t know if I should answer that or not. I look to Travis and he is holding his gaze on this strange man. I look back to him and he raises his eyebrows waiting for an answer. Finally I respond, “Who are you?�
�� He gives me a half smile and responds, “Oh little Queen, I am your demise.” There is something that is familiar about his voice. I have heard it before but I can remember where. Travis takes a step forward anger pulsing through his veins, “I wouldn’t be too sure about that Ares.” Ares? The Greek God of War. How can that be true? I step forward and ask, “Ares? You are not the Greek God of War.” He lets out an evil chuckles and it clicks in my mind. He is the red eyes that have been haunting me. Fear surges through me and I take a few small steps back. This man has been tormenting me and I don’t want to be anywhere near him. Ares responds, “No I am not a Greek God you stupid little girl. I was gifted the name by King Khan for my exceptional skills.”
“What kind of exceptional skills?” Ares looks to Travis and starts laughing in his face. Travis clenches his fists but stands still. He looks back to me and takes a few steps forward, “Well I guess you could say I specialize in…death, war and the art of pain. I am Khans General and right hand. I lead the Army of wolves and shifts that should be here any day now to watch you fall.” My palms begin to sweat and I want feel the urge to get away. I feel the breeze that was once swirling around me playfully, die down and lie still. The dirt and leaves that were twirling on the ground have now frozen in midair. Ares and Travis stand motionless with their eyes locked on one another. I feel a tingle up my spine and then a vision comes to me.
I am looking down on myself sleeping peacefully in my bed with Travis at my side. His arm wrapped around me and he has one leg draped over mine. Ares is standing outside my bedroom staring at me while I sleep. He walks around the side of the house and into the front door. The house is so dark that it’s hard to see anything that is happening. He walks down the hall like a ghost making no sound as he steps along the hardwood floor. He looks to my father’s office and Denise is sitting in his office chair awake and waiting. She points down the hall and I can only assume that she is pointing him in the direction of my room. He nods his head and gives her a devilish grin. He continues to walk down the hall and he turns to my door. He turns the knob and pushes it open. Travis and I are both still sleeping. Fear is gripping me and I cant believe that I am going to watch my own death or worse…Travis’. He walks into my room and stands over us as we sleep. He pulls a long dagger out of his belt and holds it above my throat. He raises his arms and before he hand thrust the cold steel into my neck a red burst of color engulfs his body. Screams ripe out through the house and I realize that it’s not color…its fire. My vision ends and I am sucked back into reality. Time resumes its normal pace.
I look to Ares and Travis who have not moved. Although my visions can last for about 5 minutes in reality I lose no time. To everyone around me it’s a mere second. I walk over to Travis and grab his clenched fist. My confidence is growing with the knowledge that Ares will die before he can accomplish his task. I look to the young woman who is lying on the ground and notice that she is starting to fade. Her body is beginning to turn to ash and the breeze begins to whirl her remains into the air. I look to Ares and he looks down to where she was lying and lets out an annoyed scoff. He cares for no one, not even his own soldiers. Travis can no longer contain his anger and he lunges for Ares. They both fall back and hit the ground. Dirt flies into the air as they roll around fighting. Ares gets both of his feet under Travis and launches him into the air. Travis flies back landing on his feet and sliding back further on the dirt. Lifting his head up, he looks to Ares and lets out a terrifying roar. It sends chills through my body and stands the hair on neck. He launches back towards and Ares begins to run towards him. He connects with a blur of punching and kicking. They are moving so quickly that I cannot tell what is going on. Growls and roars are ripping through that quiet forest. Denise and Mom run out from the house when they realize what is going on. Denise stands at the stop of the porch just watching the scene with her arms crossed. My mother runs to my side holding me tight. I can feel heat growing between us and I can tell that her emotions are activating her Pyros ability. I push her off and yell, “Mom…Your fire…throw it now!” She looks to Travis and Ares battling in the dirt driveway and she lifts her hand. The red glow begins to swirl in her hand and she motions her hand side to side trying to aim at Ares. She stands for a moment with sweat beading on her forehead. “Mom please! What are you waiting for!? THROW IT!” She screams back at me, “I can’t, they are moving too quickly! I don’t want to hit Travis!” Ares looks to Mom and see’s that she is summoning her Pyros and is at the ready to strike. He jumps into the air and shifts back into an owl and flies high into the tree tops. I watch him until I lose sight and look back down to Travis. He is kneeling on one knee trying to catch his breath. Blood is flowing from his nose and mouth. He has cuts all over his body and they are bleeding profusely. I rush to his side, kneel to the ground and touch his arm. He lets out a roar and pushes me with his arm throwing me across the yard. I feel my back crunch onto the steps of the porch and I cannot move. It feels like a thousand knifes are running up and down my spine cutting all my skin and muscles. Travis looks to me and hasn’t realized what he has just done. He snaps out of his rage and runs to my side. I let my head fall back and I open my eyes. Denise is standing over me grinning. She leans forward and whispers in my ear, “I guess we won’t have to kill you after all. It looks like Travis has done that for us.” All I hear is a roar from Travis and then I fade into blackness.
***
There is a warm breeze caressing my body. I can smell the scent of fresh cut grass filling the air. I feel the warm sun on my face and grass under my body. I run my hands back and forth through the soft blades and open my eyes. I see my willow tree from home hanging above me with his halo of limbs draped around me. The soft leaves are twirling in the wind. I realize that I am in a dream. I miss my spot under that willow so much that I don’t want to wake up right now. I extend my arms and grab the limp limbs that hang to the ground. I twirl them around in my fingers enjoying the feeling of the soft leaves as they run through my hands. This is the first time that I have been alone in so long. I feel safe and at ease. I roll to my side and run my hands through the grass and watch the leaves dance in the wind. “Niki…” I hear a whisper on the wind. “Niki…” Again the soft voice rings through the leaves. I almost wish that there was no one here. I want to be alone right now. I have been surrounded by people ever since I left this spot to come to the lake house. I have not had a moment of peace. I roll onto my back and try to ignore the voice calling for me. I roll to my opposite side and there is a woman lying next to me. I gasp and scoot back, “Who are you!” She had golden hair that is sparkling in the sun, fair skin, bright red lips and emerald eyes. She smiles at me and reaches out for me, “You’re hurt.” He voice sounds young and excited for life. I look up and down my body and I don’t see any blood or cuts. She begins to giggle pushes my shoulder “You can’t feel pain in your dreams silly.” I let out a small chuckle but I can’t help but wonder who she is. “Umm I’m sorry I don’t mean to be rude, but who are you?” She looks to me and brushes a loss piece of hair from my eyes, “Well I am Asclepius.” This girl is so strange. She seems so carefree. Her answers sound so ‘matter of fact’. I respond, “That is a strange name.” She gives me a large smile, “Thank you, Queen Renee gave me the name. It’s after the Greek God of healing.” There seems to be a trend with the names. I am so tired of being in the dark when it comes to the knowledge of this world so I decide to just ask her, “Why do the Queen and King name people after Gods?” She takes a breath and lets it out, “Well I guess it’s because they like us the best and you cannot get any better than a God. We are important to them and stay with them at all times. Ares is Khan’s war dog and I am Renee’s Healer. I will heal anyone that she requests me to. She told me before she left the kingdom that she would not be returning and you would take her place. She said that I was to heal you whenever you were hurt and serve you as I served her.” She runs her fingers through her hair waiting for me to respond.
Asclepi
us’ explanation of her duties is the first time that I have felt like I have understood anything about this world. Maybe it’s because she explained it like a child would explain their day at school, It was short and to the point. “Asclepius, how are you in my dream?”
