“And this is an ancestor of ours?” Coralie questioned.
“Yes. He was so great, that he was chosen by an Angel...”
“An Angel...” Coralie repeated, with question in her voice.
“Yes, an Angel of Warriors – you see, Corus was a Warrior. A great, strong, resilient, young Warrior. He fought in many battles protecting those who are good, combating for things that were pure and worthy. The Angel of Warriors, Mikael, chose Corus to lead his army, an Army of Empyreal Warriors...”
“Empyreal Warriors?”
“Yes – Warriors of Angels...”
“So, these Warriors would just go around fighting bad guys because an Angel told him to do so...”
“Not exactly...”
“Why this Corus guy? Why him?”
“Corus was already a great Warrior – but his heart, his heart was pure. He only sought out good. So, Mikael chose Corus in order for him to become an even greater Warrior – to combat with evil for the outcome of good. Mikael blessed Corus with his own blood – the blood of an Angel.”
“The blood of an Angel...” Coralie repeated her father's words.
“Yes. Mikael blessed Corus with his blood so that Corus would have it running through his veins. This was meant to strengthen him, to give him defeating power against enemies, those who are of evil ways.”
“So, what about this Army you were talking about - this Army of Empyreal Warriors? How did it come together? Did this Angel hand pick them, too?”
“Mikael. The Angel is known as Mikael. So, along with his blessing upon him, Corus was asked to choose an army to fight alongside of him. He was to choose seven men...”
“Seven?” Coralie asked, shocked at the small number in correlation to a typical army. “So, you're telling me that this guy was given a blessing by an Angel to create a Blessed Army and he only chose seven men to fight alongside him?”
“Yes, that is all that he needed, with the Blessing of the Angel, Corus chose his men. Oscar Tolie, Jude Jemson, Johnas Corteis, Demetrius Norewood, Antoni Talmedge, Marcel Cumberlin, and Alexander Dovelle...” Cal paused at the sight of her eyebrows perking at the sound of familiarity. The names ... “Do you recognize any of those names?”
“Yeah –” Coralie said, looking at her parents, then at Court who was still sitting next to her. Court shyly grinned at her, trying not to point out her sudden awareness.
“So, this army began to fight in battles. Defeating army after army. Consisting of hundreds, sometimes thousands of men.” Cal sustained his story. “Coralie, you were named after this Great Ancestor of ours ... between Corus Collier and your mother's side of the family...”
“Tolie … Oscar Tolie,” Katelyn quickly pointed out, “was the first First Appointed Empyreal Warrior by Corus himself.”
Her parents stared at her through a few moments of confused, awkward silence.
Court finally spoke, reading her confusion. “Coralie, you still don't understand, do you?”
Reluctantly, Coralie shook her head. “Not exactly...”
Cal knelt down to her. “Coralie, honey, you are a Direct Descendent ... a Direct Descendent from Corus Collier. You are a Natural-born Empyreal Warrior.”
Coralie had questioning eyes. Cal answered her questions without another hesitation. “I am also a Direct Descendent. And your mom is a Descendent from a Warrior, as well. An Appointed Warrior.”
“First Appointed, dear –” Katelyn interjected quickly.
Obliging, Cal confirmed, “Yes, honey, First Appointed...”
Coralie turned to Court. “And you? Are you -?”
Court nodded, sanctioning her assumptions.
Coralie continued, knowing she would never be able to get all the answers she wanted as hastily as she desired. The only question she was able to stammer from her lips was, “So, all of this – it's all real? How come I never knew ... I mean, how come I’ve never known this part of my life to exist?”
This was the moment that her parents had been dreading. Both Katelyn and Cal stared at each other. Neither of them wanted to tell this part of her truth, rather this part of their truth. Neither of them wanted to tell their daughter the reason why she could not recall her own reality.
But as long as confessions were being made ... Cal took a deep breath and proceeded with the truth. “Coralie, your mother and I have tried to protect you all of these years. And it's not something that we are proud of...” He paused to gather his thoughts, cautiously trying to choose his words wisely. “We've been erasing your memories … an old family friend has been aiding us for the majority, if not the entirety, of your life.”
“To erase my memories … you guys have been the ones doing this to me ... even after watching me, after seeing how hard it has been for me, not being able to remember anything ... I haven't been able to remember the bigger portion of my life ... and it’s been you two all along...”
“But it was –”
“For my protection ... that's your excuse? My life, for all practical purposes, doesn't even exist to me...”
“But, you see, it wasn't until just recently that we … we knew the time would come someday when we would have to tell you, but we were hoping for –” Katelyn paused from speaking in their defense.
“For what?”
“I don't know … we just weren't for certain on how to deal with the situation at hand...”
“And what situation was that?” Coralie asked defensively.
“You –” Cal spoke up.
Coralie looked at her father with painful eyes. How could he say such a thing?
“Because it's true ... there's more to this story than just what you are ... there's also the matter of who you are...” Cal paused, swallowing what seemed like a ball of hurt, pain, and anger. “There are pieces to this puzzle that we have been sliding around for years, trying to figure it out … and it seems almost impossible, but here you are.”
Coralie stood in confusion. The pain of knowing the truth was now running a close second to not knowing at all.
“Coralie, there are things that you are completely unaware of, that you will learn in due time – rules, expectations, consequences, Rogue Empyreal Warriors, even. But this … this is very important. You are a Direct Descendent of Corus Collier, the Blood of the Angel courses through your veins. You have more power than you realize. More than any of us knew could even be possible. None of us knew that you were possible ... much less, what you would be capable of...”
“I'm not following...” Coralie said, with fear rising in her throat.
“We always knew you would be special …. and you are special - you see, according to our Laws –”
“Laws?” Coralie questioned.
“Yes, Empyreal Warriors have their own set of Laws, standards...” Cal answered, and then continued, “According to the Empyreal Laws, Direct Descendants were all aligned as boys...”
“Then I came along?”
“Yes, but it's not that simple ... you see, Direct Descendants are supposed to be able to produced only one offspring, supposedly a boy, per generation – this keeping the direct descendant blood line pure.”
Cal looked at Katelyn, cueing her to pick up where he left off. “We were expecting to only have one child ... but surprising we were Blessed with … two ...
“What? Two? You guys have another child?” Coralie blurted out in astonishment. “I have a brother or sister?”
“Technically, yes … We had the two of you. You were part of a set of twins...”
“I have a brother or a sister ... You mean, I have a sibling?”
“We are so sorry that we hid this from you, but we did it especially because we thought it may be too painful for you...”
“I can’t believe this...”
“Believe it - it's the truth. You have a brother...”
“I have a brother!!!” Coralie exclaimed. She didn't know if it was the excitement of the invaluable information about her life or the anger of not knowing for
so long.
“Or rather … had a brother...”
With tearful eyes, she searched for answers. “So, what happened? Where is he? Where is my brother?”
With sad eyes, Katelyn turned away, leaving Cal to continue the explanation. “Coralie, this was a very hard time for us, your mother and I. Your brother’s name was Cole.” He paused, trying not to show the pain creasing his brow. “If you recall, I had just mentioned some things that you will learn about as you begin your life as an Empyreal Warrior … one of those being a Rogue Warrior. Over the past generations, there have been a few Warriors that have gotten a little ... lost ... and they decide to leave the Warrior-hood. This sometimes results in simply the Warrior leaving the Warrior life to live a normal life, leaving their Warrior responsibilities behind. Most often this is the case. But there are also some very different situations that may occasionally arise. There are some times when this, leaving of the Warrior-hood, results in a Warrior turning against their Brothers,” Cal looked into his daughter's imploring eyes. “So, this happens to be a result that your mother and I had the unfortunate circumstance of being familiar with...”
“A Rogue Warrior?”
Cal nodded, continuing, “Yes – Xander Dovelle. He was one my very best friends ... and a Descendant from one of the First Appointed. I trusted him. But I had something that he didn't –”
“What?” Coralie asked.
“Me...” Katelyn said, painfully through tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Your mother and I were in love and there was nothing that he could do to change her mind ... He was jealous. There had been rumor amongst the Warriors that Legends told of an empowered Empyreal Warrior. This Warrior was to be the Great Warrior.” Cal explained, “All Xander saw was what power he could have if the Great Warrior was his.”
“His? What is that supposed to mean?” Coralie wondered aloud, not realizing her words were spoken.
“We didn't even know for certain if any of Legends were true. Nor did we think anyone else did. It's just words in a book, right? But Xander formulated his own theories.” Katelyn explained.
“Theories that involve me?” Coralie asked, not knowing if she really wanted the answer.
“Well, not you at the time. Any child sprung from your mother and I would have done just fine in his eyes.” Cal said, with a hint of angry sarcasm underlying in his tone. “This Great Warrior was to come from a Direct Descendant, of course, and a Descendant of a First Appointed. That's all Xander needed to hear.”
“But, that doesn’t make any sense. If Xander wanted you, Mom, and wanted the Great Warrior, then what was his plan? Obviously, it could never work.”
“Xander didn’t want to hear of such nonsense. He truly believed that if he could win your mother’s heart, to steal her away, that the Great Warrior would rightfully be his.”
“But, it’s still impossible.”
“There was always Plan B in Xander’s mind’s eye.”
“And what was that?”
“If he couldn’t steal your mother’s heart...”
“Then he could try to steal the Great Warrior, itself...”
“Right...”
“Meaning that he would try to steal me...”
“Well, one of you, at least. But we have never been sure just which one of you was supposed to uphold the Great Warrior position.”
“So, you mean – wait, let me try to process this ... you’re saying that I could be the Great Warrior.”
“Well, according to Legends –”
“Legends...”
Cal picked up at the edge of her confusion. “The Keeper of The Great Book is the only one who truly knows what the Legends say. The Keeper is the one who can translate these Legends and Lessons for Warriors. All of the answers we seek can all be found in the Great Book.”
“So, who is this Keeper of The Great Book?”
Cal held a book in his hands. He put the book in is daughter's hands, and looked into her eyes. “The Keeper's position is mine, but only until you take the responsibility all your own.”
“You?!?! And then Me?!?! I will be the Keeper of the Great Book?!?!”
“Among other things, yes, once you take the responsibility,” Cal answered.
“So, what if it’s not mine to take? Where is Cole? What happened to him?” Coralie enquired, desperately.
“Xander took him –” Katelyn said, quietly.
“Took him? What do you mean? He just walked in one day and stole him?” Coralie probed, frantically. “How could that happen?”
“That’s a story in itself...” Cal said, warningly.
“Please Dad, I have to know.” Coralie pleaded.
Cal looked at his wife, silently asked for consent, and then upon receipt of it, began his story.
Xander had been acting weird for a couple of days, after the two of you were born ... he had not even been by to see the two of you yet.
We were worried about him. He had been acting so differently. Our feelings were actually hurt that he had not made it a point to come by before then.
One day, he came by; we had already come home from the hospital. We were just getting settled in. We invited him in, but something didn't seem right about his actions.
“Xander?” I questioned, surprised, opening the door. “What are you doing here at this hour?”
Xander stood almost silent. He stared past me toward your mother and the baby that she held in her arms.
Your mother questioned him next. “Xander? Is everything alright? You don't look so well.”
Xander remained silent, not speaking a word, staring straight at the baby sleeping softly in its mother's arms.
“Xander? You're scaring me. Do you need help, do you feel sick? Let us call someone.”
“Kate, it's okay. Xander, I'm going to ask you once more ... what are you doing here at this hour?”
“Just came to meet the new edition to the family...”
“Well, we appreciate the gesture Xander, but it is very late. Why don't you come back tomorrow?”
Xander was expressionless. “Gladly,” then turned and walked out of the door.
The next day just as surely as he sounded when he answered, Xander held true to his agreement.
I had gone into town to run an errand.
The doorbell rang. Reluctantly, your mother answered it. With the same crazed look in his eyes, Xander stood in the doorway. “Good Morning, Kate.”
“Good Morning, Xander. I'm sorry, but it's sort of bad timing. I just put -”
“Oh, I have no intention on staying long,” Xander said, pushing his way through the door.
“Well, I'm certain that it would make for a better visit if you could come back another time. Maybe when Cal is home.”
“Oh, no nevermind. Anytime's a good time to visit with my child...”
Xander's words cut through your mother like a knife. “What did you just say? Xander, what are you talking about?”
“Oh, Kate – don't be thoughtless! This was supposed to be our child - you know this!”
“Xander, you have no idea what you are saying! I think you have gone mad!”
“I have to make things right.”
“Xander, this has nothing to do with you. We were never meant to be together. I love Cal. I thought you understood. We could never be...”
Acting as if he hadn't heard her, Xander continued, “I have to realign what was meant to be. You and I, and the child - The Great Warrior...”
“But Xander, you don’t understand … We could never, I could never –”
Xander shouted, startling your mother and the baby in the basinet next to her. “Silence –”
Your mother leaned over the basinet to pick up the crying baby, when suddenly, Xander scooped the baby from the grasp of her arms. “Shhhh - It's okay, Daddy's here...”
“No, Xander! You could never be -”
“I'm just collecting what should be mine. And since I can't have you, I am sure that Cal will
understand...”
“No, Xander – you can't...” Your mother pleaded with the man, of whom she had known for most of her life. Yet he was seemingly unrecognizable to her.
Xander fled the front door, and escaped out into the night, with baby in tow, with your mother calling after him.
When I returned home, I found your mother in an inconsolable heap on the floor, crying and clutching to the baby in her arms. The baby was you, Coralie. Xander had taken the only Collier Baby that he had known to exist. He had not known that we had been Blessed with the two of you - with our twins, our miracle. He had only seen the one baby with her. And he took what he thought was the only chance at our producing a Direct Descendant.
He was wrong.
“Oh, Mom, Dad … I am so sorry.”
Cal explained his painful words. “It was a very difficult time for the both of us, but we still had you. We knew that it wouldn’t be long before Xander found out about you. We knew that we had to protect you.”
“So, what happened next? Did you look for him? Did you find him? Did you find my brother?” Coralie asked.
“We've come close a few times, but we're not exactly for sure. But that's what brings us up to today.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone seems to be after you, Coralie. We have done our best to protect you from this life ... but it seems that this life has sought you out and found you. Coralie, there's a possibility that Xander is after you, now.”
“After all this time? Why me? Why now?”
“Because you hold great power, Coralie. You seemingly appear to be the prophetic Great Warrior. The One that The Great Book talks about. My daughter, perhaps, you are the foretold Empyreal Warrior Heroine.”
Coralie's eyes widened. She got up and walked over to the large bay window, across the family room from where she sat. Confusion, fear, and finally realization washed over her.
This was real.
This was her life.
Her realization. Her reality.
Coralie looked up at the dark sky. Could she really take on the world?
Staring into the darkness, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark figure standing amongst the blond, dying wheat grass. She felt the figure staring at her. Reading her.
Empyreal: Awaken - Book One Page 15
