by MJ Schutte
She showed Adri another room and said, ‘You and Brac can share this one.’
Adri started saying that it won’t be appropriate but Nicky cut her short.
‘I was a young woman once, I understand the desires of the heart,’ she said with a wink.
‘But Brac and I are not a couple,’ Adri protested.
‘He certainly wished you were,’ Nicky observed.
‘Well…I…uh…he is too old for me,’ Adri stammered.
‘Peter is fifteen years older than I am and we still love each other very much after almost fifty years of marriage,’ Nicky countered.
Poking a finger at Adri she added, ‘You’re wishing right now that you and Brac were a couple, I can see it in your eyes. Stop denying what both of you so obviously want!’
Lilian didn’t try to hide her giggle.
Adri looked at her with pleading eyes but she quickly said, ‘You won’t get any help from me, I agree with Nicky.’
Adri poked her head through the door.
‘But there is only one bed,’ she argued.
‘Yes I know,’ Nicky said as she walked away.
Lilian fell asleep in Brighton’s arms with a smile on her face. For the first time since Seth took her away from Four Mountains all those years ago, she felt like her life made sense again.
Slowly she opened her eyes.
‘Don’t be alarmed Lilian,’ a gentle voice said to her.
Lilian looked around. She was sitting on a fallen tree in a clearing much like the one she and Brighton used to play in when they were kids. Evangeline was standing close by.
Quickly Lilian got up. Panic shot through her mind.
‘Where am I? Am I dead?’ she whispered.
‘No, you’re not dead but I needed to talk to you,’ Evangeline answered.
Lilian thought for a moment.
‘Am I dreaming?’ she asked.
‘Something like that. I don’t have a lot of time. It is very difficult to maintain a link to your mind from the spirit world so listen carefully: When you died we had a brief conversation before Brighton pulled you back to the land of the living. Do you remember?’ she started.
‘Yes, I do,’ Lilian replied.
‘Good, so you know that I’m worried about Brighton. He has become very powerful and it’s threatening to destroy him. You have to be the voice of reason when that happens,’ Evangeline said.
‘I don’t understand. Is his talent going to kill him?’ Lilian frowned.
‘That’s possible but I don’t think so. He knows the limit of energy his body can handle. I am far more worried that the power will destroy the good person that he is,’ Evangeline answered.
Lilian shook her head in confusion.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked.
‘My children were sweet, innocent and caring when they grew up. Robert and I taught them to respect life and be kind to others. When Seth realized what the talent could do for him, he became evil almost overnight. He convinced his siblings that they were better than everybody else and that they could rule forever if they wanted to. Having that much power corrupted the good that was in them. I didn’t see it until it was too late. Seth killed me, imprisoned his father and they ruled for three thousand years through fear and intimidation. It took someone far more powerful than them to end this rule of terror. Brighton will go the same way as my children if something is not done.’
Lilian looked at Evangeline with disbelief in her eyes.
‘Bri would never become evil. He is the kindest, most loving person I know,’ she argued.
Patiently Evangeline continued, ‘He has already forced his will down on the people simply because nobody could stop him. Look what happened in Zedonia with Graham and the High Council. Brighton didn’t like the way they were doing things and he forced them to change it.’
‘What they were doing was wrong. Brighton simply tried to rectify that,’ Lilian countered.
‘Who put him in charge? Why does he decide what is right and what is wrong? Yes, the High Council, and particularly Graham, turned out to be less than perfect but that was not for Brighton to fix. If the population didn’t like their leaders they should have been the ones to do something about it. Graham and the High Council were normal people; they did not have any special talent or power to force their will down on others. Brighton does and he is becoming used to the fact that nobody can deny him. Do you think Graham wanted to change his ways? No, but through a brutal show of power Brighton forced him. Do you think the population all agreed with the idea of a People’s Council? No, some didn’t but who was going to stand up to Brighton after he showed everybody how powerful he is,’ Evangeline explained.
Lilian simply didn’t believe that Brighton would ever become evil. Evangeline didn’t give her a chance to argue.
‘You are the only one that can stop Brighton. He has given himself to you unconditionally. He has no defence against you. Drain his energy and drive a knife through his heart, it is the only way to make sure he stays dead.’
‘What? NO! I will never kill my husband. Besides, I have also given myself to him unconditionally so I have no defence against him either,’ Lilian screamed.
‘That’s why you have to be quick about it. Don’t hesitate, drain his energy and put a knife in his heart,’ Evangeline repeated.
‘NO!’ Lilian screamed again.
She woke up to the sound of her own screams.
Quickly she sat up. A look out the window told her it was morning already. Brighton was nowhere to be seen. She used her sense but couldn’t feel his energy anywhere.
Adri stormed into the room.
‘Lilian, what’s wrong?’ she asked breathlessly.
Lilian didn’t answer. She concentrated on finding Brighton with her sense.
‘Lilian, what’s wrong?’ Adri repeated.
Lilian looked at the younger women with tears in her eyes.
‘Brighton is gone,’ she said.
‘Gone where?’ Adri asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ Lilian lied.
She knew exactly where Brighton was going and she had already decided to go after him.
Chapter 29
LILIAN QUICKLY SHOVED things into her rucksack.
‘Adri, look after the kids for me please,’ she asked the younger woman.
‘Yes, of course I will but where are you going?’ Adri asked.
‘I’m going after Brighton,’ Lilian answered.
‘But you said you didn’t know where he went,’ Adri countered.
‘I have a good idea,’ was all Lilian said.
Adri decided not to argue, it would have been useless anyway. Brac stepped into the room and put his arms around Adri from behind.
‘Good morning,’ he whispered in her ear.
Adri smiled and leaned back against him.
Lilian caught the little interlude.
‘If I wasn’t in such a hurry, I would tease you two,’ she said with a small smile.
‘Where are you going?’ Brac asked.
‘Brighton is on his way back to the Dark Land. I’m going after him,’ Lilian replied.
‘I’ll accompany you,’ Brac said immediately.
‘No, stay here,’ Lilian quickly snapped.
In a softer tone she said, ‘Sorry, I mean you should stay with Adri now that you two have finally admitted your feelings.’
‘Will you be alright?’ Brac asked.
He was torn between going with Lilian and staying with Adri.
‘I’ll take Mischief with me,’ Lilian said.
It was a lie since she couldn’t feel the panther’s energy anywhere, but it seemed to satisfy Brac. He obviously assumed the big cat was still hiding in the forest nearby.
‘Why did Brighton go back?’ he asked.
‘Probably to kill Graham,’ Lilian replied.
She finished packing and headed for the door. Brac still wanted to ask more questions but Lilian didn’t give him a chance. She walked out to the porch w
here she knew Robert and Nicky were sitting.
‘May I borrow one of your horses please?’ she asked Robert.
‘You may have one. Last night your husband paid me a golden coin for a horse, when a good one is only worth two silvers. I owe you at least another four horses,’ Robert replied.
‘Thank you,’ Lilian said as she headed for the stables around the back of the house.
Moments later she appeared again leading a big stallion. Adri and Brac were on the porch with the older couple. Each of them had a baby on their hip.
Lilian quickly gave the children each a kiss and a hug before she set off towards the boundary.
For three days, Lilian made the horse run as fast as he could. She knew it was probably going to kill the animal but she felt she had no choice. The guards at the pass had tried to stop her but she simply kept riding ignoring their shouts of “demons” and “darkness”. As soon as she was through the pass, she set a course for Zedonia guessing that Brighton was also heading that way. She knew it would be impossible catching up with him, he was probably keeping his horse running by feeding it energy from the forest.
The horse stumbled under her.
‘I’m sorry I’m doing this to you,’ she apologized.
She brought the horse to a stop and dismounted.
‘I think there is a river just up ahead, we can stop and rest there,’ she told the horse.
A short while later they reached the river. She knew that it was madness to try and carry on without resting so she found a well-hidden spot and settled down for a while.
Brighton watched from his hiding place. Graham and a young pregnant woman were walking at the front of a large column of soldiers. Brighton immediately decided that the woman and Graham’s evil offspring must die. He used his sense to find out how many soldiers there were. There were at least ten squads, each with more than a hundred men. For a moment he thought he felt a familiar energy behind him. He ignored it and concentrated on the soldiers.
Graham turned to the young woman and slapped her hard in the face. Brighton couldn’t quite hear what was going on; all he caught was ‘stupid girl’. He had an almost overwhelming urge to strike Graham down immediately but decided against it since that would ruin his plan.
They were fairly close to Zedonia, no more than two days travel on foot. There was a small clearing between Brighton and the road. Brighton was making his way towards the city when he sensed Graham and his soldiers nearby. He had changed his course a little to intercept them. It was a stroke of luck since Brighton preferred to face Graham and his army in the forest where there was an abundance of energy available to him.
They were almost at his hiding place. Brighton got up and stepped out of the undergrowth. He walked to the middle of the clearing. Some of the soldiers saw him but took no notice. Brighton spread his arms slightly. Small bolts of lightning jumped from the grass to his fingers.
This caught the attention of a squad leader. He rushed forward and spoke urgently to Graham. The king stopped and turned to have a look. His eyes went wide as he immediately recognized Brighton.
‘Graham, it’s time to face justice!’ Brighton shouted.
He spread his arms wider. Thick lightning bolts started jumping from the trees into his body. The power around him was intoxicating. It surged through him making him feel invincible.
‘You are supposed to be dead! Tristan killed you!’ Graham shouted back.
‘Nobody can kill me, I am a god!’ Brighton screamed.
The soldiers started retreating in fear.
‘Stand your ground! Archers, take aim!’ Graham ordered.
He knew the arrows were coated in darkweed poison. Even if the arrows didn’t kill Brighton a tiny scratch would be good enough.
Ashley quickly retreated into the woods on the other side of the road.
‘Release!’ Graham shouted.
Brighton felt rather than saw hundreds of arrows flying towards him.
He smiled. After this day nobody was ever going to challenge him again. A wall of pure white energy rose from the ground. As the arrows passed through it they burst into flames and were reduced to ash instantly.
‘I will not be challenged, I am immortal!’ Brighton screamed into the air.
Be careful, the power will destroy you, flashed through his mind.
Some soldiers threw down their weapons and fell to their knees. Desperately Graham tried to get them to attack but nobody moved.
‘Attack! Kill him!’ the king shouted repeatedly.
Brighton walked closer.
‘They won’t attack me. They know real power when they see it,’ he said to Graham.
Be careful.
Brighton stopped a few paces from Graham.
‘Now you will die,’ he said as he lifted his hand.
The power will destroy you.
‘Bri, what’s going on?’ a familiar voice came from behind him.
Brighton spun around.
‘Lily! What are you doing here?’ he exclaimed.
‘I’ve come to stop this madness,’ she replied.
She looked ragged.
‘Lily, wait for me in the forest, I won’t be long,’ he said.
‘No, you must come with me now,’ Lilian replied.
‘Lilian, I don’t have time to argue. Do as I say!’ Brighton snapped at her.
He turned around and faced Graham again. A white energy link slammed into Graham’s head. The king immediately sank to his knees, pain clearly evident on his face.
‘Brighton, stop it!’ Lilian shouted.
Slowly Brighton started draining Graham’s energy making him twist and turn in pain on the ground.
‘Can your king do this?’ Brighton screamed at the soldiers.
More soldiers threw down their weapons and fell to their knees.
A black energy link slammed into Brighton’s head. Confused he turned and looked at Lilian, severing the link to Graham.
‘What are you doing?’ he asked.
‘Stop this madness or I will,’ she threatened.
‘How? Are you going to kill me?’ Brighton asked.
‘If I have to. The world does not need another Seth. Let these people sort out their own leadership problems,’ Lilian answered.
‘They can’t be trusted to do that. I am taking control now,’ Brighton answered as he turned his back on Lilian.
Be careful, the power will destroy you, Evangeline’s warning rang in his ears again.
You were wrong Evangeline, I am in complete control of my talent, Brighton thought.
‘Bri, please!’ Lilian pleaded.
Tears were starting to run down her cheeks.
‘You’re also talented. We can rule forever. Is that not the reason we got this power in the first place?’ Brighton said without looking back.
Lilian dropped her hand and the black energy link disappeared.
‘Today I am a widow. The good person that was my husband died. Enjoy ruling forever by yourself,’ Lilian said softly.
She turned around and started walking away.
The power will destroy you.
Still Brighton didn’t understand. He stepped forward, grabbed Graham by the throat, and pulled him up on his feet.
‘Nobody will ever challenge me again!’ he screamed as he drained the king’s energy.
Lilian had intended to keep walking but when she reached the trees, she stopped and turned back.
Graham’s lifeless body flopped to the ground. Brighton spread his arms. Pure white lightning bolts jumped from everywhere into his body.
‘Who disputes that I am king now?’ Brighton shouted at the soldiers.
Softly Lilian said, ‘I do,’ as her black energy link slammed into the back of Brighton’s head.
She didn’t hesitate, instantly she drained Brighton’s energy.
Desperately Brighton tried to reverse the link but he couldn’t, he was powerless against her.
The energy was almost too much for Lilian to handl
e.
Brighton dropped to the ground.
Brighton looked around him. He immediately knew he was back in the spirit world.
Evangeline stood not to far away.
‘So, you are back for a third time,’ she said softly.
‘Uh…yes…how did this happen?’ Brighton stammered.
‘Lilian killed you’, Evangeline said flatly.
‘NO! She would never do such a thing!’ Brighton screamed.
He knew Evangeline was right but could not face the truth.
Evangeline did not respond, she simply stood looking at the young man.
Brighton concentrated but could not feel a link to his body.
‘I…I can’t go back,’ he whispered.
‘No, it seems your wife is a widow and your children will never know their father,’ Evangeline replied.
‘But…but…’, Brighton stammered.
‘You threw away the most important thing in life because you thought you were immortal. You became even more power hungry than the Supremes or Graham ever was and it destroyed you, just as I warned!’ Evangeline scolded him.
‘I simply wanted to fix my mistakes,’ Brighton defended.
‘Everybody makes mistakes. Just because you are the most powerful human that ever lived does not make you perfect,’ Evangeline answered in a softer tone.
‘But why did you or Lilian not just tell me? Why did Lilian have to kill me?’ Brighton whispered.
Evangeline did not answer. She saw the realization in Brighton’s eyes.
When he finally spoke, his voice was barely more than a whisper.
‘She loved me enough to make the biggest sacrifice of all. She gave up her love for me to stop me from becoming another monster like her father was.’
‘Yes, and it is love that will save you this time. Concentrate on Lilian. Find her and remember the love you shared,’ Evangeline said.
Brighton closed his eyes. He could see Lilian standing in front of him wearing one of her white dresses. Her long curls were neatly tied back, decorated with small pink bows.
Slowly he reached for her hand.
One of the soldiers grabbed a spear and came forward.
‘Stop!’ Lilian shouted as she ran towards her husband’s corpse.
